Multi-Dimensional Prayer
Opening Prayer
Gracious Lord, You are the one true King. You are my Savior and Sustainer. You are my Friend and Redeemer. I love You, Lord.
Read EPHESIANS 3:14–21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“Never get things too clear… If I could understand religion as I understand that two and two make four, it would not be worth understanding” (Baron Von Hugel, 1852–1925).
Think Further
Talking with a mathematics teacher, I mentioned that I had heard on the radio that scientists reckon that there are seven different dimensions to reality.
“Actually,” he said, “it’s likely to be more than that—nine, maybe eleven. When my wife died, it was amazing to think that there’s a dimension of reality where both she and I are with Jesus.” We are used to three dimensions but just look what happens when Paul prays for the church.
In previous verses, he described the church’s rich wonder (10–12). Now, seeing the church as the Father’s family, he prays for its strengthening in several dimensions. Core to everything else is spiritual vitality inside the family, aflame with love and power (16,17). These essential qualities are gifts of the Spirit and Jesus Christ and are seen in the quality of worship and fellowship. Authors on Christian leadership emphasize that without spiritual vitality a congregation is doomed to decline. Yet, this inside strength has only one purpose—to be expressed in outgoing love outside, flooding through creation. Somehow, this love that stretches beyond the outer limit of our understanding involves the communion of saints (18). Wide and long, high and deep, it pushes far beyond our usual 3D thinking into one of the most daring desires in Scripture: to grow into the fullness of belonging to God (19). As in any family that has a good strong father, Paul has utter confidence that the heavenly Father can make this happen in his church.
Praying in these dimensions takes confidence and huge imagination about what might be! The benediction (20,21) applies this prayer right where we are asking for God’s power to work in us for his glory in the church.
Apply
“What a broad world to roam in, what a sea to swim in is this God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (A. W. Tozer, 1897–1963). Turn verses 20 and 21 into a prayer.
Closing prayer
You, Lord, are a big God. Your magnificence overwhelms me. As my vision of You is enlarged, I pray that my life will reflect Your great glory.
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