Today’s Reading: Isaiah 43:14‐45:10, Ephesians 3:1‐21, Psalm 68:1‐18, Proverbs 24:1‐2

Context: I couldn’t just pull one verse out of the reading today for my journal.  This is Paul’s prayer for Spiritual strength in the heart of his letter to the Ephesians.

Galatians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Observations (I will record a few of many):

• Motive – for this reason – for Paul’s prayer is:
  • spiritual strength
    • Christ’s indwelling through faith
      •  Rooted and grounded in love
        • Ability to comprehend the bigness of God’s love
          • Filled with all the fullness of God
          • God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think
          • God gets the Glory

Apply: I want to pray this way.  I am going to memorize this passage and pray it pushes my prayer life.

Paul says “for this reason I bow my knees before the Father…”  Is your motive for prayer the same?