Re: Member

Peter Neilson May 18, 2021 0 2

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Ephesians 1: 15-23 (NIVUK)

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 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 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.

“I’ll remember you in my prayers.” How often have we given that assurance and then promptly forgotten? A few days later the guilty reminder ambushes us. For many years now, I have been cautious in my promises to pray. Often I add a time limit – “for the next week” or “for the next month”.

I explain that I reckon I can keep that promise, but not without limit of time. “Please contact me in a few weeks and let me know how things are.” If they do, I will commit to another period of time. Otherwise, I can let them go into the hands of God, trusting that I have opened heaven’s door a little for his grace to touch them.

Of course, there are others that are not on any time-limited list. They are on my heart daily and weekly. Remembering is not a problem because I could never forget them. You’ll have your own special people written on your heart.

Paul’s prayer could cover most of my requests for most people most of the time – wisdom to see with the “eyes of the heart”, stronger hope for the future, power and strength for the moment, resurrection resilience, confidence in Christ over all competing authorities, and a vision of his church that blows the roof off our small dreams.

PRAYER:

We could do no better than read Paul’s prayer again slowly – this time praying it, lingering on each word of request for someone on your heart today. Then pray it again for a leader in the church or the nation. What might God do in response to such a Spirit-inspired prayer?