A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL PRAYER

EPHESIANS 1:16-19 NKJ 
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 

 I encourage you to read this first chapter of Ephesians multiple times.  There is a spiritual treasure chest found in these verses that is worth the time.  

Paul begins by referencing the inheritance that we have because of our relationship with Christ.  You see the verses that say, "in Him," "in Christ," "by Jesus Christ," "in the Beloved."   

Whenever you see those phrases, know that the writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is letting us know what belongs to us because we belong to Him.  Adoption, acceptance, forgiveness, redemption, wisdom, every spiritual blessing is ours because of our faith in Christ.   

At the conclusion of the chapter, Paul reveals how he prays for the Ephesian church.  Notice Paul is not asking God to bless the Ephesians.  He is asking God to enlighten the church at Ephesus as to what already belongs to them in Christ.  So, in the beginning of the letter, Paul spells out what they have and then prays that God would cause them to ‘see’ what belongs to them.   

APPLICATION 

Here is a simple way to pray as Paul did.  If it were a throwaway prayer, we would not see it in the scriptures.  It's there for a reason.  This is an inspired way to pray for others and for yourself.   

Every place in verses 16-19 where Paul says you or your, substitute the ones you are praying for and/or your name.   

So, I might pray for my wife Joy with verse 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give to Joy the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  Or I could insert my name in there because I do need so much more prayer than Joy, but you see the principle.   

So much of the time, when we are praying for others, especially other believers, we are asking God to bless or help them.  There is not a thing wrong with that, but here is a way to take your prayers up a notch.  By praying the prayer in Ephesians 1:16-19, we are praying for enlightenment and wisdom to 'see' what we already have in Christ.  It requires faith on our part, but this Spirit-inspired prayer is a great way to pray for those in your world and for yourself.   

PRAYER 

Dear Father, please give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You.  Help me to 'see' what belongs to me in Christ.