A Prayer for Generations
Ray has been teaching through the book of Ephesians on our Wednesday evening YouTube Bible studies. Tonight he plans to teach about the last eight verses of chapter 3. Ephesians 3:14-19 are a beautiful prayer near to the heart of every devoted Christian mama.
The prayer begins in humility and then affirms the worth of every family by declaring that every family — black, white, immigrant, sick, well, rich, poor, homeschooling, not homeschooling — derives its name from our Father.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth derives its name, . . .
Then, the prayer asks God to grant those for whom the person is praying to be strengthened with power through God’s Spirit in the inner person.
. . . .that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory,
to be strengthened with power
through His Spirit in the inner man, . . .Â
The reason we need this power is:
. . . so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith; . . .Â
Every devoted Christian mama wants her children to have deep roots, to be well-grounded, and to love.
. . . and that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, . . .Â
Every devoted Christian mama longs that her children:
. . . may be able to comprehend
with all the saints
what is the breadth and length
and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ . . .
As valuable as knowledge is, the devoted Christian mama wants more for her children. She wants her children to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of God and to know the love of Christ:
. . . which surpasses knowledge, . . .Â
She can honestly say to her children: I want all of this for you . . .
. . . that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
I know that you long for this for your children and their children and their children and all your future generations. When we pray this, we can pray with confidence and we can say with all of God’s children — black, white, immigrant, sick, well, rich, poor, homeschooling, not homeschooling:
Now to Him who is able to do
far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21