We have a prayer chain for the ladies in our church. All ladies are welcome and encouraged to participate with their requests and to pray for others. The needs range from physical sickness to the salvation of souls. It may also include praying for the emotional needs of someone because of a stressful or mentally painful situation. All are valid requests. We have a God who truly cares about every aspect of our lives. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus is teaching about trusting in God, and how we should not fear man. He uses the example of a sparrow that is considered almost worthless as a bird, yet God cares for them. Then he turns the message to how detailed God’s care is for us. He numbers the very hairs on our heads. He cares and He listens. He wants our request to be brought to Him. Does He already know them? Absolutely, but He desires that we make them known to Him and that we show our dependence on Him to answer.
Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
We have a great example of this in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul is earnestly coming before the Father for spiritual strength. In verse 14 his posture shows his humility and his words indicate reverence to an awesome God. In verse 15 we see our title as Christians. We are named Christians or little Christ, after the one who made it possible for us to be redeemed.
Ephesians 3:14-15 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”
In verse 16 the focus of his prayer becomes evident. He prays they will gain spiritual strength. A strength that is inward, a strength that will sustain and help them and us to grow, no matter what our outward abilities are. Paul desires for them to understand and tap into the limitless resources that God provides for His children. In Philippians 4:19 Paul teaches the Philippian church that His God, their God, “will supply all their needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” As he continues to speak, I can sense his excitement and desire to help them grasp these biblical truths. God has no limits in His love or ability to secure us and strengthen them or us.
Ephesians 3:16-17 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”
Do you ever sit and meditate on the abilities of our God? He hadn’t changed since Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians. In verses 18-20, His love cannot be measured in its width, depth, length, or height. It surpasses any love we can ever imagine. Think of the person you believe loves you the most on this earth, the one who would die for you, the one who takes you as you are, faults and strengths, and multiply that as far as you can go, and you still haven’t measured God’s love for you. It passes all knowledge of anyone who ever lived. We as God’s children can take part in the entire enjoyment of God in the fullest most bountiful way. This is God’s desire for us.
Ephesians 3:18-19 “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
After trying to get them to grasp a God that cannot be fully understood, a love that cannot be contained, and a power that is available to us, Paul ends this chapter with praise. Our God can and will do for us, exceedingly, and abundantly over and above all that we could ever ask or think. Let that sink in! It is unto His glory that we give praise.
Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
This is how we should be praying for ourselves and especially for others. The only limit to what God can do is our own doing. He wants to show Himself in power and love to us, but we are too busy to connect with Him. Think about what you want to do for those that are closest to you. You love them and desire to please them. Yet, we are limited by our resources and knowledge. God is not. He also knows what is best for us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and He wants us to know Him in His fullness and trust Him. This prayer that Paul prayed is one that we should be praying for other believers. If the modern Christian lived and prayed this way, it would be contagious. It would reveal to a lost world what an awesome God we have. It would also take care of anxiety and stress that robs us of enjoying the relationship we should have with God. This kind of praying causes us to live on a different level of life that can and will satisfy our souls.
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