What To Pray For

Ephesians 1: 15-23 

For this reason 

The reason is in the preceding verses we just covered yesterday. 

I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,

Paul has heard about the believers who live in Ephesus, of their faith and their loving acts to help other believers. 

do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 

Paul has been praying for these believers, probably by name, thanking God for them. How often do we pray for other believers we know? 

This is how he prays for them:

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 

He wants God to open their understanding to be able to comprehend who God is and all He has done for us. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 

He asks God to give them a wise understanding of God's destination for us all and the abundance of the riches we will enjoy as His kings and queens.

and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. 

To understand how great His almighty power is for us and for our benefit as believers.  

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 

The power of God that is working in us is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave, resurrected His body into a whole new life, and gave Him His throne in Heaven. This power is what we have access to! 

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 

This authority is over all other authority or might or rule everywhere in Heaven and on Earth and in every other place in all creation, both now and in the future!

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, 

God the Father gave to God the Son the Lordship over all Creation. 

and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 
which is His body, 

Jesus is the Head and we are His body, as His church, His bride. 

the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 

We as the church are the fulfillment of His being, to fill up the substance of everything in the Universe, and all the Universes after this one He will create throughout all eternity future! 

O my Father, open our minds and hearts to understand and comprehend and revel in all the goodness You have planned for us! Remind us to be praying for one another to realize how much You have Loved us, in making us to be Your children, primary members of Your own family. 

Keep us mindful, Father, to remember one another in prayer before You, to lift up each other before Your throne for Your special attention for blessing and growth in the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Continue to shape and mold us, Father, into the very image of our Lord, so that we will be prepared and ready to help Him rule when the time comes. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, King over all Creation, to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus