My Prayer with Paul for You

Good Shepherd Community Church

We often say to one another, "Pray for me." And we are urged, we are pushed to pray for one another. But what should we pray? Praying for the ups and downs and decisions in life certainly are matters for which we should turn to God for help and supply. God has concern for all his children's needs. The Bible through the examples of Paul would elevate our prayers to deeper concern. His prayers are rooted in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and in the deep reality of conversion as a result of spiritual regeneration. One of these prayers is in Ephesians 3:14-19, "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." (Christian Standard Version)Paul adds many layers in his writing from all the fullness of God's saving work in Jesus Christ. These truths and spiritual realities are connected and often one thing leads to another. In this podcast my goal is to summarize two primary petitions Paul prayed for his fellow Christians and also for us as part of the group, "all the saints". Considering these petitions as ones made for me, I in turn now pray them for you."I pray that you will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in your inner being.""I pray that you will be mentally and