Thursday July 7, 2022

Today is Thursday, July 7 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.

I turn to the Lord my God and call his name. I find refuge in his love as I recite the words from Psalm 17.

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:6-8

Pause and Pray

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians continues and each day I discover more of what God desires for his beloved children including me. Paul uses the strong images of being “rooted and established” in love respectively from the fields of horticulture and architecture. In horticulture a tree grows strong with deep roots and in architecture a building is constructed on a firm foundation. That is God’s intention and hope for us. That we, our families and our churches will have a solid and secure base. We are to establish a mighty bedrock of faith on which to build, rise and grow. Deep roots will keep us steady when the storms of life come and destructive winds blow.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17b-19

God is love and his love is beyond mere human comprehension. Yet, Paul prays Jesus’ followers will catch a glimpse. He seems to be struggling to put into words the vastness of Christ’s love. I imagine a cross with arrows on each end, the arms extending out into infinity like a giant axis. Then I imagine a line through the heart of the cross creating a three-dimensional axis that moves from front to back. Then I imagine a fourth dimension that moves this cross axis through time – past and future. If that blows your mind, it should, and is exactly what Paul is getting at. This is the width, length, height and depth of God’s love that definitely surpasses human comprehension. God’s love is boundless and limitless and no one is beyond the love of God.

Ask: Have I placed bounds on God’s love for me? Have I placed bounds on God’s love for someone else?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for myself and I pray for others who are on my heart today. I name them outloud. I pray that I (they) will be rooted and grounded in love. I pray that I (they) will have power to grasp the vastness of your love for me (them) that knows no bounds. I pray that I (they) will be filled with all the fullness of God. I read the words from Ephesians again and listen for the message you have for me.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17b-19

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 trying to tell me something that I do not already know. God is helping me capture a glimpse of the divine mystery of his love for me and others – a vastness that is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps God wants me to pray a particular part of this verse for myself today. Maybe God wants me to pray a particular part of this verse for someone else. Who would benefit from developing deeper roots of faith? Who needs a stronger foundation on which to build their life? Who needs to grasp the truth of God’s love for them? Who continually struggles to believe they are loved because of their past life or behavior? Who needs to be filled with the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, come and speak to my heart the truth of God’s love for me. Reveal the places where I have erected barriers to receiving your grace. I open the doors of my heart to welcome you in all your fullness. Show me how I have not loved others and constructed dividing walls in my relationships. Provide avenues to healing and peace. Amen.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:7-9

I leave this time of prayer contemplating the vastness of God’s love for the world. I go to love others in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen