Saturday, June 6, 2015

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ 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, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

A Prayer of John Wesley

We offer up again our souls and bodies

to you to be governed, not by our will, but yours.
O let it be ever the ease and joy of our hearts,
to be under the conduct of your unerring wisdom,
to follow your counsels,

and to be ruled in all things by your holy will.
And let us never distrust your abundant kindness and tender care over us;
whatsoever it is you would have us to do
or to suffer in this world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflection

Reread the verse from Ephesians and this time underline every time the word “power” appears and circle every

occurrence of the word love. These words are crucial to this prayer and our prayer life. Pastor Mark told us that there is no power in the words that we pray. The truth is that the power in prayer comes from the power of the Holy Spirit that comes through our faith in Christ’s love.  And we have access to that power when like Wesley’s prayer we turn

control over our lives to God and trust God.