Friday July 8, 2022

Today is Friday, July 8 and we continue our summer journey through chapter three of Ephesians.

I return to this familiar place every morning to seek God’s presence. I breathe deeply, still my body, quiet my mind, and draw near to the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Precious Lord, thank you for faithfully meeting me in this quiet corner. As the new day dawns, I long to hear a word from you. Speak to me through the sacred words of Ephesians and help me receive the unique message you have for me this morning. Amen.

As I approach the work of the upcoming day, I seek the Lord’s blessing and favor with the ancient words of Psalm 90.

May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:16-17

Pause and Pray

Today I arrive at the end of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and the completion of chapter three. Paul finishes by giving praise and glory to God and Christ and reminding the people of Ephesus that God’s power is at work through them. God’s power is also at work through me and my church. God is able to do far more than everything I can ask for or even conceive. God is all powerful, but Paul places an important qualification on God’s mighty ability – “according to his power that is at work within us.” Paul wants me to see that the Body of Christ (the Church) and believers like me are the location of God’s amazing ability to act for good in the world. God wants to work great things through faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Whatever I have been asking God for lately and whatever I imagine I would like to happen, God can do more. God is able to accomplish more than I can ask or imagine. Not just “more” but “immeasurably more”. The original Greek term translated “immeasurably” is the longest adverb in the New Testament – fourteen letters. There is no comparable word in English. It would be best translated as “far more abundantly beyond.” People often limit God. Christians frequently reduce God’s abilities to what mere humans are able to accomplish instead of what God can accomplish. God’s dreams for my nation, my city, my church, my family and my life are far beyond what I could possibly dream.

Ask: In what areas of my life am I placing limits on what God can accomplish? Where am I not cooperating with God’s power at work within me or within my church?

Pause and Pray

God of Power and Might, you are able to do far more than I can even begin to imagine. I ask you to expand the bounds of my thinking and enlarge the confines of my heart. Pour the power of your Holy Spirit into my soul and work within me and through me to do good in the world. Bless my church and use her to bring glory to Jesus Christ. I read the words from Ephesians again and listen for the message you have for me.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God is speaking to me today through these final verses of Paul’s prayer. This prayer is for me, my loved ones and my church. Perhaps God wants me to turn a circumstance or situation over to him in prayer, something that I have been trying to solve on my own. Maybe God wants to use me to do his work in the world, something I have been avoiding. Perhaps God wants me to stop relying on my own limited abilities and invite the Holy Spirit to be at work through me and my daily activities. Maybe God wants me to humbly and diligently work for his glory and not for my own, my family’s or my church’s glory.

Pause and Pray

Blessed and Holy Lord, I give the activities of the dawning day over to you. Come and work within me and beside me. I invite your power to accomplish your will for the world through me. I put your agenda before my own. Show me how to live this day in such a way to bring you glory and allow your power to accomplish a level of love and goodness I could not even imagine without you. Amen.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

As I leave this time of prayer, I go to serve my Lord Jesus in all the activities of my upcoming day. I seek to faithfully love and diligently serve others to bring God glory.

Amen