Do you pray for people, situations, and conditions? We are commanded to pray about those events and problems that most of us just worry about. Praying about those things relieves us of all that worry and mental anguish. When we release the matter to God, we can be assured that he will take care of it. That is easy to say, but sometimes it's hard to do.
In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul gives us insight into prayer as he prays for those he is writing to. Prayer does not require that we agonize and cry and plead with God. Paul prayed by first giving thanks for the salvation of the Ephesians and remembering them. As he prayed he called on God and proclaimed him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the source of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
The object of Paul's entreaty was not physical comfort or blessing, but that they may know God and the Lord Jesus Christ better. He continued to pray that their eyes may be opened to see the hope to which he has called you and to be able to see and claim the inheritance which is yours.
We are recipients of the power of God working in us and the mighty strength which he exerted in Christ to raise him from the clutches of death and seated him at his right hand on a throne of grace.
I am guilty of praying for mundane and trivial matters. Money, health, comfort, and jealousy shrivel in comparison to the might and power, glory and grace, dominion and revelation he calls us to view. Paul wants us to see that our inheritance and possession is far above and beyond what we see. With wonders at our fingertips we focus on the trash and the trivial.
These minor matters are swallowed up in God's view. Of course they are a bother, but we must not let them distract us from God's intention and God's plan. Submit them to him and let it go. We don't have to hold on to the temporal and physical elements, but we must always renew our commitment to see God's vision and see ourselves in it.
Ephesians 1:15-23 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also 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 the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him 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 title that can be given, 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.(NIV)
In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul gives us insight into prayer as he prays for those he is writing to. Prayer does not require that we agonize and cry and plead with God. Paul prayed by first giving thanks for the salvation of the Ephesians and remembering them. As he prayed he called on God and proclaimed him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the source of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
The object of Paul's entreaty was not physical comfort or blessing, but that they may know God and the Lord Jesus Christ better. He continued to pray that their eyes may be opened to see the hope to which he has called you and to be able to see and claim the inheritance which is yours.
We are recipients of the power of God working in us and the mighty strength which he exerted in Christ to raise him from the clutches of death and seated him at his right hand on a throne of grace.
I am guilty of praying for mundane and trivial matters. Money, health, comfort, and jealousy shrivel in comparison to the might and power, glory and grace, dominion and revelation he calls us to view. Paul wants us to see that our inheritance and possession is far above and beyond what we see. With wonders at our fingertips we focus on the trash and the trivial.
These minor matters are swallowed up in God's view. Of course they are a bother, but we must not let them distract us from God's intention and God's plan. Submit them to him and let it go. We don't have to hold on to the temporal and physical elements, but we must always renew our commitment to see God's vision and see ourselves in it.
Ephesians 1:15-23 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also 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 the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him 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 title that can be given, 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.(NIV)
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