From: Ken Hooper
S – Ephesians 3: 16 -17
‘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’
O – This is a powerful prayer that Paul prays for the ‘families’ before God. No doubt Paul had prayed for many people, situations and needs. This prayer is very specific in that he knows where the source of power comes from, he knows where to direct the prayer and what he wants the prayer to accomplish. This prayer is not directed at circumstances or physical needs. The prayer is directed to strengthen the spirit, the inner being. From this strengthening would come a growing presence and connection with Christ and a rise in faith.
A – This prayer of Paul’s teaches me how and where I need to direct my prayer for others and myself. So much of my prayer is directed to circumstances either around my own life, other peoples and family. Paul shows me that the most effective way for me to be strengthened is to pray that God will strengthen me where it counts most – in my inner being, my spirit. When this is prayed significant things happen. My Inner Being rises in strength, and my faith and connection with Jesus increases. This is a revelatory and powerful prayer pattern for me to pray for my family, and for the many others that need prayer. My natural tendency and ‘prayer default’ is pray to change the circumstances. Paul’s prayer pattern is to have a rising strength in the circumstances. This is not just to be a once off prayer, but a prayer that I need every day in my life and those around me. The need for strength, from the most powerful and rich source, to come into my spirit every day, and to produce the powerful outcome of faith and connectedness that I need with Jesus every day.
P- Lord, I ask you to strengthen me in my inner being, so that my connection with you and that faith will rise. Forgive me when I try to strengthen myself, or draw it from other sources. Help me to be strong in y circumstances rather than look for the circumstances to be changed.
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