Praying for the Healthy

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-22)

Paul has been talking about what God accomplished in sending his Son Jesus. He has marveled in the fact that through Jesus Christians can approach God with boldness and confidence and it is for this reason that he kneels before the Father in prayer. What does he ask for? He asks that each believer might be strengthened in power. So often we feel powerless. Paul prays for us to know the abundance of God's power to be evident in believer's lives. Paul also prays that believers might grow in their knowledge of the love of God. God loves his children. We often doubt that. But Paul prays that the Ephesians might live from the firm foundation of knowing God's love. He then finishes with a great word of encouragement to those feeling defeated. He praises God and says that God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. Finally he moves to praise & petition again, that the church in every generation might give glory to God, through Christ. This is a prayer we can learn from.

Grace and peace from Marcus