Thursday, April 22

Ephesians 1:15-19

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in all my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Most surveys on this sort of thing indicate that the overwhelming majority of Americans claim to pray every day. Chances are you will direct your thoughts and words toward God in prayer on at least several occasions today.
But the question is “What do we pray about?” or “Who do we pray for?”
Here we get a glimpse into the prayer life of the Apostle Paul himself.
Notice that Paul does not pray for himself; he does not pray that he will be released from prison; he does not ask that the Ephesians pray for him – rather he prays for them!
He prays three ways: first he gives thanks for his Ephesian brothers and sisters and for their faith in Christ. Next, he asks that the Holy Spirit will enable them to grow in their relationship with God. And finally, he prays that their hearts would be open to seeing and realizing the hope and power that is theirs as his children.
What do you think it would mean to these young Christians to know that Paul was thinking of them and praying for them?
The pastors and ministry staff of FBCG gather weekly for a staff meeting – and part of that meeting is devoted to prayer. We pray for the requests that come to us through the “connection cards” that are filled out during our weekend worship services. We also pray for our church family as a whole. Every month our Executive Council – the senior lay leaders of FBCG – also devote part of our monthly meeting to prayer on behalf of our congregation. Hardly a week goes by that I do not receive a note from someone who is reminding me that they are praying for me as pastor.
What a gift God has given us in prayer!
Who do you have in your life that you know prays for you? A friend? A faithful mom or dad? Take the opportunity this week to thank them for their prayers! And who do you pray for regularly? Take the time to send those folks a note – email or old fashioned mail – to let them know you are praying for them.
As you close your time with God today – thank him for the gift of prayer, for the people who remember you in their prayers, and ask him to remind you often to pray for others!

Brian Coffey