Ephesians 3:14-21 For
this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious
riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner
being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray
that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power,
together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and
high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that
surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the
fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all
we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to
him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for
ever and ever! Amen.
Philippians 2:10 that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
Ephesians 1:16-19
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…
Ephesians 1:10 to
be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment--to bring unity to
all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
When you pray, are you confident that God is listening and
will answer? Or do you, like many other believers, feel doubtful that your
words are even heard?
Let’s consider some obstacles to a healthy prayer life.
First, poor concentration can inhibit our communication with the Lord. Human
minds are prone to wander, and it is common for our thoughts to drift from
prayer to other topics. One antidote for this is to realize with whom we are
speaking. The more we grasp God’s power, love, omniscience, and holiness, the
easier it will be for us stay focused.
Second, we may feel unworthy to talk with the God of all
creation. Guilt over sin in our life can tempt us to avoid time alone with Him,
but He wants us to bring our wrongs into His light. On our own, we will never
be worthy to be in the presence of pure perfection. But Jesus’ death and
resurrection brought us forgiveness and acceptance, so we can come to the
Father without fear or embarrassment.
Third, fear can stand in our way. Some people worry, What
if I don’t pray correctly? The truth is, none of us knows how to pray in a
manner worthy of a holy God. That’s why the Holy Spirit intercedes on our
behalf. The Lord desires our hearts, not perfect words.
The Lord has made Himself available to us through prayer. Do
you realize that the most powerful tool and greatest privilege is accessible to
us? We can come before almighty God in prayer. Our heavenly Father is waiting
to listen to our praise, confession, and requests.
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