Prayer Devotional - Wednesday

Devotionals

Begin by finding a quiet place. Get comfortable, but not too comfortable so that you go to sleep! Do not answer the phone ? in fact, turn your cell phone off before you start. Grab a couple of pieces of paper or a notebook and a pencil or a pen. Use one piece of paper as your offloading sheet. Any time some concern or to-do threatens to interrupt your prayer, just jot it down and let it go. You?ll come back later. Then you can get back to your reflection unencumbered. Use the other piece of paper to take notes based on the direction below.

PRAYER BASED ON REFLECTIONS FROM EPHESIANS 1:15-23

1. Let?s start by reading Ephesians 1:15-23

15 I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I have also heard about your love for all of God's people. That is why 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I always remember you in my prayers.

17 I pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the glorious Father. I keep asking him to give you the wisdom and understanding that come from the Holy Spirit. I want you to know God better.

18 I also pray that your mind might see more clearly. Then you will know the hope God has chosen you to receive. You will know that the things God's people will receive are rich and glorious. 19 And you will know his great power. It can't be compared with anything else. It is at work for us who believe. It is like the mighty strength 20 God showed when he raised Christ from the dead. He seated him at his right hand in his heavenly kingdom. 21 There Christ sits far above all who rule and have authority. He also sits far above all powers and kings. He is above every title that can be given in this world and in the world to come. 22 God placed all things under Christ's rule. He appointed him to be ruler over everything for the church. 23 The church is Christ's body. It is filled by Christ. He fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:15-23

2. We can learn a great deal from Paul?s prayer for the Ephesian Christians. First of all, notice how Paul ends the prayer. He ends by declaring some powerful truths about Jesus. Begin your prayer time by offering those truths back to Christ as a praise. First, praise God?s power (see verse 19). Then praise what He has done in and through Christ.
3. Next spend some time offering a confession to God in response to this passage. What parts of it do you fail to understand? What parts of it do you see lacking in your life? Do you know God as deeply as you might if you had paid attention to all that He has shown you? Do you know His power? Use this as the basis of your confession.
4. Now let?s pray for significant friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. Pray for 4 or 5 people. Allow God to lead you to whoever He brings to mind. Pray for them the things that Paul prays for the Ephesians.
5. Now let?s pray about the needs of one country outside of the USA. You prayed for one yesterday. Pray for another one today. Pray the significant parts of Paul?s prayer for people throughout that country.
6. Pray for your own needs. Begin by visiting Paul?s prayer points again, only pray them for yourself. Then, focus on what your concerns are for today. As long-term concerns come up pray for the strength to do today what you need to do about them. This is the time to bring to God?s attention the list you created on your offloading sheet.
7. Jot down any final thoughts. This could be positive feelings. This could be more offloading concerns. This could be questions. It could even be some struggle you have discovered. Thanks God that He is in control (remember Joshua?s acknowledgement that God is sovereign) and that everything is in His hands.