Ephesians 1:15-23  "For this reason..."  Paul says.. because of these spiritual blessings that God has poured out on us.. because He chose us, adopted us, redeemed us, forgave us, gave us this great inheritance and filled us with His Spirit.. "for this reason"  we gives thanks!  O Yes!  Thank You Father!

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is one that we need.. 

Our Wednesday night prayer meeting is studying the book Praying like Paul by Jonathan Graf, and he teaches this prayer as a model "for seeking that kind of spiritual walk ( a deeper walk)  for yourself and those you love." 

Paul prays that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."    

Jonathan writes, "Wisdom signifies both knowledge -knowing things, facts- and good judgement."   Paul is praying that his readers would grow in their knowledge of Jesus.  We are all in need of  growing in this and allowing that knowledge to impact all that we do and say.  A spirit of revelation is also needed.. that we hear God and understand what He is telling us.  Jonathan writes, "To me it is asking for an attitude of seeking the things of God -and God Himself." 

Paul continues his prayer, " I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."  It is God's work in our hearts that allows us to have this great hope.. to know that He has called us to something greater than we can even imagine.. to a life marked by His glory and His power. 

Paul sums up this prayer with a reminder of the greatness of the One we want to know more and walk with more fully.. "These are in accordance with the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. and He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, and fulness of Him who fills all in all." 

This is our God! We desire to love Him and serve Him with all of our hearts! Let us pray this prayer of Paul's for one another so that we might know Him more and more!

Yes, Father, do give us this spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might know You and Your Son who is our Savior and King... more and more fully..   Open our spiritual eyes and ears to hear Your voice and to know this great hope of glory in Jesus Christ. Fill us with Your Holy Presence and power that all we do and all we say will be to the glory and honor of Your Name. Amen.