What Paul Prayed For

 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
                                                                        Ephesians 1:17-23
                                                                                        
Yesterday we introduced you to this prayer from the Apostle Paul, directed to the throne of God, and filled with descriptive language about the power of such a prayer and its work in the lives of those who believe. I wish to direct you to read and study the prayer, paying close attention to who we really are when we are in Christ Jesus.  Paul prayed:

1. For the opening of the eyes of their hearts, to know the hope to which God calls us.

2. For the riches of the glorious inheritance in his holy people.

3. For God's incomparably great power for the believer.

Just these three things mentioned in the middle of Paul's prayer give us an abundance of hope, inheritance and power.  (We'll unpack the things associated with that power, tomorrow.)   For now, I suggest you read this prayer several times, especially in the light of Paul's interest in the body of Christ receiving the things for which he prays.  Then read through the prayer once more, this time as you search your life to see that you are experiencing this hope, this inheritance, and this power.  I join with Paul in praying that you come to be a recipient of each.

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