Ephesians 3:14-19 — Conversations with God

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

There are many reasons to bow our knees before You, Father, but Paul’s reason is still a much needed reason for us to pray.  As diverse peoples who have been brought together under the banner of Jesus Christ we should probably expect to have some struggles with unity.  Indeed, at times it seems absolutely impossible for us to get along.  We are so self-centered and full of our own agendas, agendas we believe supersede anyone else’s in importance.

But we are all members of Your family.  So give us strength by Your Spirit out of the treasure chest of strength and riches You possess, so that the living, loving Jesus Christ might make His love known in our hearts.  Root us in Your love like trees that cannot be pulled out of the ground.  Make us ache to see unity among ourselves.

Give us all a comprehension beyond ourselves of the vast dimensions of Your love so that being filled with all Your fullness, O God, we might love each other as You love us.  When we realize how much You love us, surely we will love the ones You love.