"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (For I always pray to) the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation (of insight into mysteries and secrets) in the (deep and intimate) knowledge of Him. By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)."
Ephesians 1:15-18 [AMP]
Paul just got done telling the Ephesians about the guaranteed hope we all have in anticipation of the full implementation of our inheritance. Paul sees his unceasing prayer as a reinforcing thankfulness of the impact of the Ephesians churches love and service to the people around them.
I have so much I can learn from the prayers of people in the bible and Paul is a big one. Paul’s prayer for wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God is an amazing prayer he could pray for them. If they receive from God what Paul is asking for, they will have not only a more full ministry but also a deeper relationship with the only one that matters. Paul says here, that the wisdom and revelation he asks for them will flood their hearts with the light of knowledge and understanding of God’s will on their lives… all the while increasing their appreciation of the glorious inheritance yet to come.
Application:
Each night I go into our master bedroom closet, shut off the light, close the door, and pray in the quiet stillness of the evening. I have a prayer list that I pray through and also take a majority of that opportunity to just gratefully sit in the presence of my God, revealing to Him my struggles and desires to know Him better. Reading through this passage today I am reminded of how to pray for those on my prayer list. 1) pray in thankfulness for them, 2) pray for spiritual wisdom for their lives as the live to serve Christ before He returns, and 3) deeper knowledge of the transcendent God of the universe.
Today’s Psalm:
I acknowledged my sin to you,
Psalms 32:5-7 [ESV]
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah