For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
– Ephesians 3:14–21
Ephesians 3:14–21 is the second prayer in the book of Ephesians that Paul was writing. This letter specifically prays over the Christians he’s writing to. I want to specifically pray this prayer over you, just straight through God’s Word. I want to make this as personal as I can. Part of me wishes I could just, for every person listening right now that, I could just individually pray this over you, call your name before God.
But I trust God knows your name, He knows what you are walking through right now. Even if I was right where you are, He would still know far better than I could even in conversation with you, all that’s going on in your mind, and your heart, and your life, your family, your work, just in your world. So I’m just going to read Ephesians 3:14–21 as a prayer over you, adding just a little bit along the way, hopefully all in line with God’s Word. But I want you to feel interceded for in the next couple of minutes. Usually this Pray the Word podcast is us praying together before God. I want to pray this prayer specifically over you.
Today, we pray that this year would be a time that we grow closer to God and experience His love in a greater way.
Ephesians 3:14–21 Wants Us To Have A Deeper Intimacy With God
And in this sense, for you just to receive this and to let me have the privilege of praying for you today. Ephesians 3:14, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” Specifically before the Father of all those who have trusted in Jesus, the Son, for salvation. “That according to the riches of God’s glory, He may grant you …” Right where you are right now, that, “… God may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”
That you would have the strength and power of the Spirit of God in the depth of who you are. The strength and power of God and His Spirit would be sufficient in all your weakness, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith …” That you may experience deeper intimacy with the indwelling Christ, the Jesus in you more and more everyday. As we approach the end of this year and go into a new year, I pray that you might experience deeper intimacy with Jesus in the year ahead than you have ever experienced before in your life.
This Verse Prays For His Wisdom, Courage, Strength, And Mercy
Through faith, through trust in Him, His abiding presence with you, Spirit in you, I pray that you would be, “… rooted and grounded in love. And that you might have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge …” I pray that you would know in a great way even in this moment the breadth, and length, and height, and depth of the love of Jesus for you.
A love that surpasses knowledge, that is greater than you can imagine, greater than you can know in your finite mind. That you would know the love of Jesus for you right now, and that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. I pray that you fill with His wisdom, with His courage, with the strength of God, with the mercy of God, with the comfort of God, with the love of God, with the knowledge of God. I pray that you fill with the fullness of God, His Spirit in you.
Ephesians 3:14–21 Prays For His Glory In Us And The Church
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all …” I can ask or think, and all that you can ask or think, “… all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us.” According to His power at work within you. May He do in your life, through your life, round your life, your world, abundantly more than all you can ask or think according to His power. Not according to your power, according to His power. “To Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Oh yes, God bless my brother or sister. I’m praying for right now for Your glory in Your Church, for Your glory in Christ throughout all generations, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name I pray and intercede for my brother and sister right now. In Jesus’ name I pray Ephesians 3:14–21 over them. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
