Episode 42: Ephesians 3:14-19
Transcription
Today’s verse is Ephesians 3:14-19
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask Him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in. And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Let’s pray together.
I think that needs to be our answer today, God. Whatever question we are asking, the answer is for us to get down on our knees and bring it before You. You are the only one with the answers; we cannot find truth elsewhere. I pray that we realize that and submit to that today. Please hear us as we pray, let our prayers rise before You and enter Your throne room.
We need strength today. We need Your strength to live out an existence eked on this earth with pain and weariness. Empower us today within ourselves to live as You lived on this earth. We need refreshing and encouragement. We need a fresh perspective on what is important. I pray we can hear the Spirit and His words, words to revitalize our hearts and minds. We want to glow, inside and out, radiant with confidence in who we are because of You.
You dwell within us and You are the giver of life. May our intimacy with You be the mainstay in our lives. I pray we will cherish our times with You, cherish the fact that we can call on You any time, day or night. You are always present, always willing, abiding in such proximity that our every breath is from You. Jesus, help me not to forget You are there and help me not to push You away from any second of my life. Let Your constant love be my constant reminder.
As You are with us, LORD, help us to relate to other people. Help us to love and give to all those around us, with extravagant love, with selfless giving, with open-minded understanding. Let us treat everyone as You would. Let us learn to love even the most difficult people. Let us have wisdom and dignity in the way we interact with everyone. Help us to remember that just as You loved and forgave us, we can love and forgive others. It doesn’t matter our past or theirs, what matters is the glorious future You have provided for us.
Shower us with Your love, saturate us in the meaning of who You are. May we yearn to rest and grow in Your love. Don’t hold back, Father. I know You don’t, but we’re asking for full-blown hurricanes of love to knock us off our feet, to lead us to a deeper understanding of You. May we be completely overwhelmed in the tender and compassionate love that woos us despite how unworthy we are. I want to feel it and know it in every dimension, completely surrounded, completely surrendered, to a God who knows no bounds in how much love He pours out on His creation.
Let this love reflect in our lives, in our relationships, in our decisions, in our thoughts, in our actions, in our futures. I want that. Help me not to become distracted. Help us to be focused on You and You alone.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
