The Scriptures are the best source to go to whenever we would like to know what we could pray for. As believers, we want to desire and pray for the things that are good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of God, and there is no better place to know what these things are than Scripture, for it is His written Word or will for us (Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.). That is why a renewed mind that prays whatever is good, pleasing, and acceptable to God soaks itself in the Scriptures. This then renews his mind and transforms him, which also transforms our desires and what we pray for.
Father in heaven, may Your Word constantly renew my mind, and may I always think and discern according to Scripture, praying and desiring that which is holy and acceptable in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
A Short Exposition of Ephesians 1:15-23
When we go to the Scriptures and have them as a basis of our prayer, it is good to have proper exposure to them to get the essence of the passage we can use. For example, Proverbs 13:4 says that we are not to be sluggards who get nothing but should be diligent and richly supplied. The passage’s main point is that we must be diligent because hard work bears fruit. So, if we use (Proverbs 13:4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.) as a basis for prayer, we then pray and ask God to help us to be diligent. The critical point here is looking at what the passage is teaching us (considering the context and the author’s intent) and trying to incorporate that into our prayer as we pray for ourselves or others.
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
Ephesians 1:15-23 is an easy passage to incorporate into prayer whether you as a father are praying for yourself, family, friends, or whoever needs prayer. The same prayer can be used if you are a spiritual father to a fellow believer. Ephesians 1:15-23 is Paul’s prayer and thanksgiving for the church in Ephesus. Simply put, what he desires and longs for the church in Ephesus, you can simply desire and long for in prayer for other people. Likewise, Paul thanks God for and commends the church in Ephesus; you can also pray that the Church shall be evident in your life and the lives of those you are praying for.
Ephesians 1:15-16
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
Paul thanked God because of the Ephesians’ commendable faith and love for other saints. Their faith and love resulted from their obedient participation in God’s work. So, if we incorporate that into prayer, we might pray that one would have commendable faith and love toward other believers as one participates in God’s work.
Ephesians 1:17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
The essence of this passage is that Paul is praying that the church in Ephesus could know more about God. It is similar to what Peter says in 2 Peter 1:2-3. An essential part of our growth as Christians is our knowledge of Who God is. Reading our Bibles is crucial because we learn more about God, His character, Who He is, and what He is like. It is where we see His splendor, majesty, and holiness, causing us to revere Him and walk in the fear of the LORD. It is also where we understand more of His mercy and grace in the person of Christ, which causes us to be zealous for Him. It is also where we get to know His agape love for us, which causes us to lay down our lives for Him and live our lives for Him Who loved us.
Ephesians 1:18-19
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have a supernatural understanding of everything God gave them in Christ. That includes the hope of God’s calling upon them. This hope pertains to the future glory that we have in Christ, which makes the current sufferings of this world insignificant (Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.). Paul also prays that we come to understand more about the riches of the glory of God’s inheritance in us. Mostly, we think about our inheritance in Christ. But here, Paul’s thoughts pertain to God’s inheritance in us. This shows how God delights in us and how He invested in us despite us being spiritually poor in spirit because of sin. God poured out His grace, mercy, wisdom, and every spiritual blessing in us through Christ. He sanctifies us and conforms us to the image of Christ. These are the things that Paul wanted the Ephesians to understand better, including the exceedingly great power of God, which He displays to those who believe.
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
Ephesians 1:19-21
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come:
In this Christian life, we move and work by the power of God that is at work in us. That power is not just any kind of power. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at God’s right hand, raising Christ above everything and making Him the One Who rules over everything. That power that raised Christ is the same power that is at work in us.
Ephesians 1:22-23
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
A Father’s Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-23)
Lastly, no matter what challenges we may face in our Christian life, it is important to remind ourselves that we who are the Church and the body of Christ stand on top of that which God has subjugated under the feet of Christ. That is why in Christ we are more than conquerors. As Christ builds up the church, the gates of hell shall not prevail. We journey in life as victors who are on the offensive against the domain of darkness. That gives us confidence as we pray for our family.
Applying It to Prayer
Now that we know what the passage is teaching us, we can incorporate that into prayer, whether it is something you would like to pray for yourself or for your family and friends. Below is an example of using Ephesians 1:15-23 when praying for your family:
Heavenly Father, I pray for my family that You will cause them to grow in their faith and love toward other believers. May they always have selfless love for their brothers and sisters in the faith. Give them more understanding of Who You are and what You have given them. Cause their hearts and eyes to see how You chose to delight in them and see them as Your inheritance. Remind them of the power they have in Christ and that what they have as they live their Christian lives is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand to rule sovereignly as the king of kings and the lord of lords. You have put everything under the feet of Christ, and in Him, we overcome the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Ephesians 1:15-23 is one of the many passages in the Bible that a father can pray for his family or other people. So, we must have our minds renewed by constantly chewing on the Word of God so that whether we have a Bible in front of us or not, we are praying from a heart and mind that desires that which honors and glorifies God.