The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)
3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 68:35 (ESV)
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
The Word of God for encouragement:
Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
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.
My observation:
Paul's prayer for the saints at Ephesus is an expansive prayer. It is a prayer for an enlarged vision, and the spiritual power to carry out that vision. Notice the far reaching sphere of his concerns.
Ephesians 2:21 (ESV)
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 3:15 (ESV)
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Ephesians 4:16 (ESV)
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 3:18 (ESV)
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
It is good to examine our lives to see if we are being too narrow in our sphere of concerns, and too weak in our efforts to build up one another. Let's pray for one another, and expand our concern and prayers to include all the saints. God is a BIG God, and he is capable of doing BIG things.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray this prayer of the Apostle Paul for all of your beloved people.
Father, I pray that all of your people would be able to appropriate the greatness of your love and power, and our potential to shine as bright lights in this world to dispel the darkness that is everywhere.
Father, give power and strength to your people like you did for your people that the Psalmist referred to in Psalm 68:35. Praise the Lord!
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Ephesians 1:1-2 (HCSB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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