I don’t think any one of us would dare argue that the Apostle Paul wasn’t a praying man.
He cared deeply for those in his stead and would often make mention of them in his prayers. Whether it’d be the Ephesians, Galatians, Romans, Corinthians, etc., this mighty man of God would often bring his fellow brothers and sisters before the Lord with petitions and thanksgiving.
Although we aren’t permitted private access to all of the gushings of Paul’s heart on behalf of the churches he established, we are privy to read one very profound and powerful prayer he offered on behalf of the church at Ephesus — a prayer that I am convinced is just as relevant today as it was when Paul penned it.
Make no mistake. Whatever is recorded in the alive and active word of God is just that — alive and active! God would not have memorialized the written word if it didn’t have significance and relevance for us today.
In other words, what you are about to read may have been a prayer Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus, but it is also a prayer you can claim as your own as you agree in desire for the same result Paul was praying for.
I am more convinced than ever that this particular prayer is one that God is wanting to answer for us. We must be willing to make it our own. It is of the utmost importance in this hour!
Everything we could possibly need in this life is found in Jesus.
Paul knew this.
If you need healing, it’s in Him.
If you need peace, it’s in Him.
If you need joy, it’s in Him.
If you need provision, it’s in Him.
When we see, we’ll be free.
We’ll be free from struggling, free from trying so hard, and free from self-effort.
As many as are the promises of God concerning freedom (see Galatians 5:1, John 8:36, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Isaiah 61:1), there are so many that don’t seem to be walking in it and it’s because of what they fail to truly see.
It’s not that they are necessarily caught in a trespass or bound by any particular sin. They are simply ensnared by the belief that their effort will bring the change they want to see.
Trying to accomplish what only grace can accomplish is a lot like quicksand. The more you struggle, the worse your predicament. The more you sink.
The more you try, the more conscious you are of what’s wrong.
Honestly, the more effort you exert, the worst it gets.
What we need is a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17).
This is what Paul prayed for.
Everything we need is in this knowing.
When I know Him, I know what He’s like.
When I know what He’s like, I can anticipate what He wants to do and is able to do.
Paul goes on to pray for the eyes of the Ephesians’ hearts to be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).
In other words, Paul prayed that these people would be able to perceive something deep within themselves that may contradict what their two natural eyes observe.
When our two eyes can’t see it, the eyes of our heart can.
That’s faith.
Faith is the conviction of things not seen with our own two eyes (Hebrews 11:1).
When I can’t see it, I’m still convinced of it.
Only enlightened eyes of the heart can say such things.
I am praying that you would see — deep within yourself — that what you long to overcome, what you desire to see changed, what you want to see formed within you can only be accomplished by God’s grace.
Your faith in His strength releases the grace necessary to bring about what you long for.
Faith and humility work in tandem.
My belief in His ability and the forgoing of mine is both humility and faith.
I’ll go low when I believe.
If you can see that your desire kisses His desire and if you can see that you can’t, but have faith that He can, you’ll do well!
You will find rest for your soul.
You will find peace.
You will experience joy.
You will find what I call the sweet spot and truly discover the freedom that comes from simply believing Him.
- Brian Connolly, Faith Like Birds