Open the eyes of your heart
My prayer for us all today is that God continues to open the eyes of our heart.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1:15-23
This is Paul’s prayer for those in Ephesus, but also one which we could apply to each of us today.
But first we look at what the therefore is there for? In verses 1-15, Paul makes it clear that he is speaking to those who share the same love for God and the same inheritance in Christ Jesus. We who know him as lord and saviour have been adopted as sons and daughter of the most high. The seal of this adoption is the promised Holy Spirit. To be alive in Christ, is to be spiritually alive.
When you’re sure of this, you can ask with confidence to receive the following:-
• To know God more (verse 17).
This is a prayer which I’m sure God loves to answer, if it is sincere. Ask and receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation, which is already available. The presence of Holy Spirit and spiritual wisdom go hand in hand.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. – Isaiah 11:2
• To know the riches of our inheritance. (verse 18).
The greatest inheritance we could hope for, is the promise of salvation through Christ Jesus and the promise of eternity with God.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. – Romans 8:16,17
• To know God’s power. (verse 19).
We could never fully know the great depth of God’s limitless power, but just to attempt to plumb those depths would amaze us. The power God gives us is the same awesome power that raised Christ from the dead. There is never a time when we are totally powerless, if we are in Christ.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:11
So today we pray with confidence. Lord help us to know you more. To be sure of our calling and inheritance in you, as you open the eyes of our heart. Lord give us a better understanding of your great power today.