Ephesians 1:16-17 “I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.”
Paul is so concerned with us growing and finding what God has for us he prays all the time for others. We need to think about praying for wisdom and insight so we can grow and be the fully devoted followers of Christ that reaches His Kingdom. His prayer is so the Ephesians have growth in their knowledge of God, because when we learn to know God we see love. And when our walk is based on love we have a heart transformation and people can see a difference in us. Look what Peter shares in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
When we love and when we grow closer to Him we grow away from our old nature that tries to keep us bogged down. The hardest thing for us to do sometimes is forgive ourselves and let God change us. Seek change from the Lord, that is how He will help you. Look at what I said; He will help you. We still have to choose to co-labor with Him. As soon as we feel it's all Him and we just get to sit back and there will be change we will be stuck. God is love and with that love He wants a relationship with us. This next verse is a great example of the relationship that we can have and how important our part is. Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 says “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Come to me, is key, it doesn't say know me and I will give you rest. Our desire to learn and grow will help us change and continue to surrender our will.
When we surrender and we see His love for us we are led by the Spirit and we focus on living for Christ. We started with a prayer Paul said to the Ephesians and now I want to end with his prayer to the Philippians. In chapter 1 verses 9-10 he says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”
When will our efforts be done, when Christ returns, so keep on seeking, meditate on the word day and night so it is fresh in your mind and heart always. And remember we are not in this alone so be like Paul and pray for all believers so the world sees a difference in us. Amen
Paul is so concerned with us growing and finding what God has for us he prays all the time for others. We need to think about praying for wisdom and insight so we can grow and be the fully devoted followers of Christ that reaches His Kingdom. His prayer is so the Ephesians have growth in their knowledge of God, because when we learn to know God we see love. And when our walk is based on love we have a heart transformation and people can see a difference in us. Look what Peter shares in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
When we love and when we grow closer to Him we grow away from our old nature that tries to keep us bogged down. The hardest thing for us to do sometimes is forgive ourselves and let God change us. Seek change from the Lord, that is how He will help you. Look at what I said; He will help you. We still have to choose to co-labor with Him. As soon as we feel it's all Him and we just get to sit back and there will be change we will be stuck. God is love and with that love He wants a relationship with us. This next verse is a great example of the relationship that we can have and how important our part is. Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 says “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Come to me, is key, it doesn't say know me and I will give you rest. Our desire to learn and grow will help us change and continue to surrender our will.
When we surrender and we see His love for us we are led by the Spirit and we focus on living for Christ. We started with a prayer Paul said to the Ephesians and now I want to end with his prayer to the Philippians. In chapter 1 verses 9-10 he says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”
When will our efforts be done, when Christ returns, so keep on seeking, meditate on the word day and night so it is fresh in your mind and heart always. And remember we are not in this alone so be like Paul and pray for all believers so the world sees a difference in us. Amen
RSS Feed
