Author: adb

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

There are just certain types of stories that are always going to make the headlines in the news. We can always expect to hear about any sort of catastrophic disaster that happens anywhere in the world. Prominent people falling from grace or passing away unexpectedly will make the news. Shocking crimes and courtroom drama won’t be overlooked. Radical changes in laws or policies, sports milestones, and weather extremes will be included. And of course, perhaps near the top of the list of the most newsworthy items: who’s dating who? 

While we may brush that last one off, since many of us claim not to care about who’s dating among the rich and famous, apparently such stories generate enough buzz that the news outlets are sure to keep us posted on the latest relationship details. When you think about it, though, it’s kind of silly thing for that to be such a big deal when you consider the point of dating. It’s just two people interested enough in each other that they want to get to know each other better. That’s why we commit to either dating one person exclusively, or dating a variety of people – in order to get to know someone better. 

Paul’s words to the Ephesians may not mention the word “date” anywhere, and his words aren’t likely to make major headlines in our world today, but his prayer is that we would get to know our Savior better. And even though getting to know the Savior better isn’t going to generate a buzz or make for click-worthy headlines, he does want it to be a major story in our own personal life. While that may not serve as any revelation or epiphany to you (most believers are well aware that part of Christianity is getting to know God better), perhaps our epiphany moment is the realization that our prayer life can go a long way in helping us get to know Jesus better. In a previous post I said baptism may be one of the most underutilized and under appreciated blessings of the Christian faith. Prayer probably deserves to be in that discussion, too. 

We want to see how a significant shift in our prayer lives can aid us in knowing Jesus better. You’ve probably heard more sermons on prayer than you can recall. But even if you can’t remember how many of them you’ve heard, I am guessing you can summarize your takeaway from just about every one of them: “I should pray more.” Sound about right? Well, today I don’t want you to walk away with that same conclusion. Today I want to challenge you to focus not just on praying more, but praying differently.

When you reflect on your personal prayer life, prayer requests from others, or prayer-related comments on someone’s social media post about a tragedy or health issue, what is the primary focus of those prayers, by and large? Aren’t they overwhelmingly related to physical and temporal requests?

It’s natural for us to pray for – and request prayers for – everyone affected by the wildfires. We don’t think twice about it. We’re comfortable divulging the diagnosis or disease a family member just discovered and asking for prayers for them. We aren’t shy about sharing news about our recently unemployed neighbor, a friend’s child who is struggling with this or that, or someone going through a divorce – we gladly request prayers on their behalf. And that’s good! We certainly don’t want to stop doing these things!

But let’s consider how we might approach these prayers differently. After all, there is no physical concern that doesn’t also have a spiritual element connected to it. Everything is spiritual, because that is who we are in Christ: spiritually made new. So there will never really be a prayer request that is limited to just the tangible and temporal; everything is spiritual. 

Think of how this relates to some of the examples just listed. The physical loss experienced as a result of the wildfires will test the faith of many, strengthening the faith of some and perhaps stripping the faith of others, because questions about God’s love and providence will naturally arise. These are spiritual matters. Diagnoses and diseases lead to thoughts of healing and possibly even life and death. These are spiritual matters. Things like unemployment, struggling kids, and divorce most often involve spiritual breakdowns somewhere along the line, or at least open the door for it. These are spiritual matters. So what portion of our prayers in regard to such things is spiritual? See how it isn’t just a matter of praying more, but also praying differently. 

A question for consideration: is a prayer life that focuses primarily on physical blessings reflective of a life that is lacking spiritual focus? On the one hand, any sort of prayer life, even one made up primarily of the physical and temporal, is still a reflection of some measure of spiritual maturity, since prayer is an expression of faith. Let’s acknowledge that and celebrate it. Anytime prayer is regularly incorporated as a spiritual discipline it is a good thing. But the next step in growth is to give greater consideration to the content of our prayer life.

As you skim through these words from Paul to the Ephesians, do you notice anything? Now that I’ve already been highlighting it, the content of his prayer stands out even more, doesn’t it? Notice how many physical or temporal requests he includes? By my count, it’s zero. 

Let’s break down Paul’s prayer. First he writes, “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” (v.16-17a). When we face a tough task, feel under qualified, or are just too exhausted to accomplish something we had planned on getting done, we explain it by saying, “I don’t have it in me.” We know what someone means when they speak those words.

It is true that we don’t have it in ourselves, but Paul doesn’t pray for that; instead, his prayer is that we see that what is inside us that is even more powerful: Christ. His prayer is that through the Spirit, we may be strengthened with power so that more of Christ resides and rules in our hearts. When Christ rules prominently in our hearts, that leaves less room for all the other stuff in the world and in our lives that is constantly seeking residence there, all of which would harm us spiritually. When is that last time you prayer for Christ to dwell in your heart more?

Paul goes on, “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…” (v.17a-18). As a child you may have learned the beautifully simple song, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” It’s true! He does, and even a child can grasp what it means that God loves us. But Paul takes it to another level.

His prayer is that our understanding of God’s love for us in Christ would expand, that as we deepen the roots of our faith and build on the established foundation, we would begin to see how much bigger God’s love for us in Christ really is. Do we have a limited vision of God’s love, as if it’s a small cabinet space or cardboard box that a small child tries to squeeze into? How wrong that is!

God’s love is so expansive that there is more than enough room for all of us, no matter who we are or what we’ve done. And no matter how much we think we know God’s love right now, there’s room to grow in knowing it even more. When is the last time you prayed to better know the depth of God’s love for you?

And Paul wants to make sure we don’t just know God’s love, but that we know God’s love, “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (v.19). Paul isn’t just interested in God’s people sitting in a classroom and taking notes on his spiritual lectures so that we know all the right answers for some final test. He wants for us to know a love that surpasses knowledge. Stop and think about how illogical that is, humanly speaking. How can someone know something that surpasses knowledge? 

By knowing it not just intellectually, but also experientially. Paul’s prayer is that head Christians would grow into heart Christians. When that happens – when what we know about God’s love from our knowledge of the Bible and its promises – becomes what we know because we’ve experienced it, that is when we are filled to the measure of all fullness.

Christianity isn’t just facts to memorize and spit out at others, but truths that shape our entire lives and experiences. How do we, who know from experience what it is to be loved deeply by God, ever explain that to an unbeliever? We can’t. The Spirit does it, as he takes the knowledge and truth of God’s love for us in Christ, and through faith injects it into our spiritual DNA so that it becomes who we are and shapes how we live. Who doesn’t want to be filled to that measure of the fullness of God? So when is the last time you prayed to know God’s love more experientially?

Finally, as intimidating as all of this may sound, remember this about the One hearing your prayers: he is “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (v.20). When we look at ourselves, we may shake our heads at all of what Paul is praying for and conclude it’ll never be us. It just won’t. It may be for some people, but I’m just too much of a mess or not spiritual enough or too bad a person or whatever else we may tell ourselves. So Paul reminds us that none of what he’s prayed for is contingent upon the Ephesians – or us, for that matter; rather, it’s all dependent on God, the God who is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” You think too little of God if you do not ask him to carry out all of these prayers of Paul on your own behalf, too. 

Yes, he can do more than you ask of him, and, that power by which he does it is already at work in you. Right now! Today! This very moment! We aren’t talking about starting from scratch. We aren’t talking about the daunting task of trying to figure out where to start. We aren’t wasting our time wondering if this will all work, because it’s already at work in us!

You have faith. You are a believer. You are already his – the heaviest lifting has already been done by God’s grace in bringing you to faith. Don’t you imagine he’s interested in finishing in you what he started by helping you know him better?

Then let’s pray for more of that in our lives, and less of the stuff that is short-lived and ultimately unsatisfying. Let’s pray for the spiritual goods, and do so with the confidence that the one able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine is more than capable of delivering.

Married? Single? Dating? Off the market? No matter your dating status, pray to know Jesus better.