The women of our church have just finished studying Ephesians 1 through 3. These powerful verses help us grasp the amazing riches of our position in Christ. At the end of the sessions covering Paul's prayers in Chapters One and Three, I challenged the ladies to pray these prayers for themselves and others. This way of praying may not be familiar to you.
As mentioned in a previous post, Nancy Guthrie’s book I’m praying for you: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who is Suffering has greatly helped me pray for others through Scripture.
Perhaps you are used to praying scripture for others. So let me ask you - do you pray for yourself? Praying for ourselves is one of the hardest things to do, isn't it? Yet if we think that praying these verses for others can make a profound difference in their lives, why would we not want to ask the Lord to do the same for us?
Another prayer practice I encourage is letting those we pray for know. If this is a new concept for you, I wrote some prayers as a guide. I have also included a message you could send by copying the text or using the shareable graphics.
I am praying each of these prayers for each person who reads this post. I am praying that you will begin to see how you can take Scripture, which we know is God’s will, and use it to pray for others, no matter their need.
Who do you know that needs to be prayed for in this way? Or who do you know that would use these tools? Do'n't hesitate to share! And watch for prayers from Ephesians 3 soon.
Ephesians 1
I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. Ephesians 1:16-23
Every Spiritual Blessing - Wisdom and Insight
PRAYER FOR YOURSELF: Father, how I thank you for promising us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. Thank you for the faith you have given me and the opportunities to grow in it. I pray that as you give me spiritual wisdom and insight, I will recognize and cherish it. Thank you for what you will do in me as I follow your ways.
PRAYER FOR OTHERS: Father, how I thank you for promising us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. I thank you for ________________ and their faith in you. I pray that as you give the spiritual wisdom and insight, she will recognize and cherish it. Thank you for what you are going to do in ________________'s life!
NOTE TO THE PRAYED FOR: I praise God for His promise to bless those who know Christ with every spiritual blessing. I pray that you will recognize and act on the spiritual wisdom and insight He gives us as we grow in Him.
Confident Hope In Him
PRAYER FOR YOURSELF Father, you sent Christ - the Light of the world - to show us the way. I pray that as I grow in my faith in Christ, the Light will reveal more and more of the hope we have because we are in Him! How amazing that you would consider us your inheritance when we have nothing to commend ourselves without your work of grace in our lives. Thank you!
PRAYER FOR OTHERS: Father, you sent Christ - the Light of the world - to show us the way. I pray that as ____________ grows in her faith in Christ the Light will reveal more and more of the hope we have because we are in Him! How amazing that you would consider us your inheritance when we have nothing to commend ourselves without your work of grace in our lives. Thank you!
NOTE TO THE PRAYED FOR: I am praying that your heart and mind will be flooded with the light of Christ so that you can grasp the confident hope that we have because we belong to Him. I pray that you will praise God because He calls us His inheritance!
Love and Fullness
PRAYER TO YOURSELF: Father, I pray that as I continue experiencing the love of Christ that is so beyond my frail intellect, I will be filled more and more with the fullness and power that comes from you. Praise you for your abundance!
PRAYER FOR OTHERS: Father, I pray that as ________________ continues to experience the love of Christ that is so beyond our frail intellect, she will be filled more and more with the fullness and power that comes from you. Praise you for your abundance!
NOTE TO THE PRAYED FOR: I pray that as you continue to experience the love of Christ (even though we can't understand it completely), you will be filled more and more with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Strength and Power
PRAYER FOR YOURSELF: Father, I pray that I will grow in my understanding of the inexplicable greatness of your power. I also pray I will grasp the concept that the same power - the power that raised Jesus from the grave - belongs to those of us in Christ. Help me to be a good steward of that amazing power! Praise your name!
PRAYER FOR OTHERS: Father, I pray for __________________ to grow in her understanding of the inexplicable greatness of your power. I also pray she will grasp the concept that the same power - the power that raised Jesus from the grave - belongs to those of us in Christ. Help her be a good steward of that amazing power! Praise your name!
NOTE TO THE PRAYED FOR: I pray that you will recognize and grasp the incredible greatness of God’s power for those of us who have trusted Christ for salvation. It’s the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! Now that’s power!
Prayer in Struggles
PRAYER FOR YOURSELF: Father, I pray that as I navigate the struggles of this life, I will continue to have hope, knowing that all things are under the authority of Christ. I praise you for the promise that because I am called according to your purpose, you will use all of it for my good. To you be the glory!
PRAYER FOR OTHERS: Father, I pray for __________________ as she goes through a particularly challenging time right now. I praise you for the promise that because she is called according to your purpose, you will use all of it for her good. To you be the glory!
NOTE TO THE PRAYED FOR: I am praying that despite your current struggles, you will have hope because all things are under the authority of Christ. I praise Him because He will use it for good in your life because you are called according to His purpose.
Julie