Bowed In Prayer
Ephesians 3:14 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Can you see Paul on his face in a roman prison calling out to God? What a picture of faith and what an example for us all. The scripture records a lot of prayers. But the most heartfelt prayers are those uttered when one is bowed before God. It is utter desperation and hopelessness apart from God's intervention. This is how deeply Paul cares for the Ephesians.
The Ephesians are in a very immoral city. The center of worship to the pagan god Diana, of sexual fertility. On top of that, the craftsmen who made a lot of money off the false religion in Ephesus stirred up a mob against Paul and the Christians who were converted there.
One thing Paul knew for certain, these Ephesians would need much prayer if their church was going to be strong in the midst of a very hostile and secular society.
Notice Paul's mention of "every family in heaven and on earth". Ephesians 5 and 6 are the scriptures we turn to when it comes to the family. How appropriate to get on our knees in prayer for our families! We should be bowing in prayer for the people we know and love that they are "filled with all the fulness of God." Not praying for things or money. Praying for the fulness of God! What a great prayer. What a powerful prayer.
I think of my children. Bowing before the Father on behalf of them. Satan is after families and will attempt to drive a wedge between Father and children. I bow in prayer before the Almighty Father and pray for the protection of my kids and the fulness of God in them.
How about our spouses? We should be bowing in prayer for them! Calling on God to fill them with the power of the Holy Spirit. Marriage is hard and Paul knows this (1 Cor. 7:28). We should be bowing before the Father on behalf of our spouse.
How about our church? It's leaders? Our friends? Our coworkers? If Paul the Apostle could bow before the Father in prayer in the middle of a Roman jail, we can do it in the comfort of our living rooms, bedrooms or offices! Surely the world needs more people willing to bow before the Father in prayer.
The Ephesians are in a very immoral city. The center of worship to the pagan god Diana, of sexual fertility. On top of that, the craftsmen who made a lot of money off the false religion in Ephesus stirred up a mob against Paul and the Christians who were converted there.
One thing Paul knew for certain, these Ephesians would need much prayer if their church was going to be strong in the midst of a very hostile and secular society.
Notice Paul's mention of "every family in heaven and on earth". Ephesians 5 and 6 are the scriptures we turn to when it comes to the family. How appropriate to get on our knees in prayer for our families! We should be bowing in prayer for the people we know and love that they are "filled with all the fulness of God." Not praying for things or money. Praying for the fulness of God! What a great prayer. What a powerful prayer.
I think of my children. Bowing before the Father on behalf of them. Satan is after families and will attempt to drive a wedge between Father and children. I bow in prayer before the Almighty Father and pray for the protection of my kids and the fulness of God in them.
How about our spouses? We should be bowing in prayer for them! Calling on God to fill them with the power of the Holy Spirit. Marriage is hard and Paul knows this (1 Cor. 7:28). We should be bowing before the Father on behalf of our spouse.
How about our church? It's leaders? Our friends? Our coworkers? If Paul the Apostle could bow before the Father in prayer in the middle of a Roman jail, we can do it in the comfort of our living rooms, bedrooms or offices! Surely the world needs more people willing to bow before the Father in prayer.
PRAYER:
Father I ask that my family and my friends are filled with the Holy Spirit. I ask that you show them Christ in real and powerful ways. I ask that the are strengthened with power thorugh Your Spiorit in their inner being. I pray that they may be rooted and grounded in love. I ask that my family be a family filled with the fulness of You, dear Father. Amen.
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