Pray Now & Always; Ephesians

May the mumbling commence!

What can Paul teach us about prayer from his letter to the Ephesians?  That is the question we will delve next.  Read from Ephesians chapter one (NLT):

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called.  I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given his people.

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.  This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.  Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this or in the world to come.  And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church.  And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence. (Verses 16b-23)

Prayer is a way of life.  It is constant. 

Prayer is not a laundry list of things we want.  Prayer grants spiritual wisdom and understanding to those who are willing to listen and learn.  Prayer can foster a growth in our knowledge of God.

Prayer is a floodlight in our hearts.  It is kind of like fog lights that cut through the most powerful fog that can gather in our hearts from the deceptions and delusions of this old world.

Prayer can help us to understand the wonderful future that God has promised us who believe.

Prayer equals power.  Prayer is never a last resort.  Prayer is the ultimate first responder in all situations.  Prayer can help us to understand this truth.

And prayer can help us meditate both alone and together about the role of Christ Jesus in our lives.  Christ plays a leading role in our individual lives and in our collective lives as the church – his Body.

We can never overestimate the power of prayer.  We can never pray too much.  If we allow prayer to saturate our lives, there is no end to the transforming power it can work in us and through us.

Pray now.  Pray always.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out