Other people depend on your prayers. Whether we’re talking about your spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, coworkers, church family…we all need people in our corner praying for us and we need to be in their corner praying for them. Paul shows us how to pray in Ephesians 1. Take a look at six things Paul challenges us to pray, and then put these prayer recommendations into action this week.
- THANKFULNESS | vs. 15, 16
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”Having an attitude of gratitude and praying prayers of thanksgiving is a primary and biblical prayer to pray. God wants us to be grateful and thankful in all things and at all times. Do the members of your family know that you are thankful for them and pray for them? - WISDOM | vs. 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.”Pray for your children and grandchildren and others to “be wise in God’s eyes.” I like to say that God’s Will is God’s Word is God’s Way. And it is the best and wisest way to live. There are many distractions and detours that can wreck us and our loved ones. Pray for God’s wisdom! - UNDERSTANDING | vs. 18
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…”Pray for understanding and clarity. When the fog is thick and the night is dark, like life is often times, we need the Light of the World to lead us. - HOPE | vs. 18
“…in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”Pray for hope. Keeping hope alive is vital for every person. When life gets hard, many give up hope. But in Christ, we can have the hope that He is with us always and will never leave us nor forsake us. We are never alone and we need never give up. We endure and persevere because of the hope we have in Jesus. - STRENGTH | vs. 19, 20
“…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”Pray for strength. Life is not always easy and often it is hard. We often lack the strength we need to power through difficult seasons. But thanks be to God, He offers us the strength we need to overcome. The very power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. - FAITH | vs. 21-23
“…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. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”Pray for deep and unwavering faith. Pray for those you love to have a growing faith in God and His mighty power and love and authority. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No matter what uncertainties come our way, we can know that we know that we know that Jesus reigns supreme.
Join me this week in praying these prayers over your entire circle of family and friends.