Ephesians 3:14-21 English Standard Version

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Here Paul begins this pray on his knees. It is very symbolic that this position is taken because it recognizes the authority of God over life itself. Paul’s prayer is for the very best for us. His prayer to the Ephesians is also a prayer for us. We might not all be asked to get on bended knee when asked to pray but it is often said, “Bow your heads.”

The tradition has been passed down through the millennia and may have lost its original meaning. It is not often taught but ought to be part of our vocabulary and it is more than submission, it is one of surrender. It says “Your will be done” in our mannerisms but it is more than just a symbolic gesture.

Those who have lost the war may be subject to execution.  It is beyond their control and they have no voice in defense of their position. Their fate is sealed and what is about to happen is beyond their control.

Revelation 3:18 English Standard Version (ESV) I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Many bad things have been said about the church at Laodicea and with just cause but I must also acknowledge that the Lord said it isn’t too late to turn things around.

Verse 17 says; For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 

Pride of life keeps the disillusioned from recognizing what is really important. It takes a real humbling to make us realize everything we held dear is worthless. Those who hold the esteem of the world are blinded by ambition and greed. They cannot see what is truly important.

Luke 12:18-21 English Standard Version

¹⁸ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

The attitude that the worldly life is all there is will be sorely disappointed when they wake up before the God of the universe and discover they have nothing to show for the life they lived. Legacy means nothing to the dead, even less to the spiritually dead.

Yet Jesus cries out to the spiritually dead, “It isn’t too late.”

Anoint me Lord that I might see your glory.

That is a personal prayer that cannot be spoken for another soul.