Of things that last.  Ephesians 3

Have you ever looked at an old autograph book?  One time, I remember looking at one that had belonged to my mother.  Most of the greetings in the special book were from 1928, and were written by school chums.  I loved looking at them because the penmanship was quite lovely (like my mother’s!), and the sentiments so different than those seen in today’s school yearbooks.  I remember one of the greetings:

         I wish you health, I wish you wealth;

         I wish you gold in store …

         I wish you Heaven after death …

         How can I wish you more? ^*

For some reason, it has always ‘stuck’ in my head.  I recalled it today as I was thinking about Paul’s prayers; truthfully, it would make a good prayer, as it really covers all the bases—health, financial means, and eternity!  One of the things I hear from folks about their frustration with prayers—their own, in particular—is that they feel as though they are just constantly asking God for things … as though he is just the genie in the sky.  But what if our prayers were for things that last, rather than those things that are fleeting?  Let’s take a look at Paul’s prayers—three here—and note the underlined parts. 

“I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now ... It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart . . .all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer:                                                                                         that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”  from Philippians 1

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.  From Ephesians 1

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  From Ephesians 3

Prayer – Paul’s checklist put into action today:

“Dear Lord, I thank you for Kelly!  Thank you for gifting her as you have.  I pray that she would be overflowing with your love, in such a way that she is able to understand and discern your way for her to live, and have the desire to seek your wisdom.  I pray that she will know more and more about you, including how powerful you are, and that she has access to your power! 

O God, help her become rooted and grounded in your great, all-encompassing love for her … why, then her life would be full, and she would be complete!

This I pray for my beloved, Kelly ~ in the power of your great name,

Amen.”

Christine

* - And would you believe it, I ‘googled’ what I remembered, and found it in the autograph book of a woman named ‘Minnie’, from 1890s Indiana. Ha-ha.