Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Prayer: Constant Communion with God

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Key verse: : For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (Ephesians 3:14,15)
 

DEVOTION

The temple devoted to the Roman goddess Diana, centered in Ephesus, ranked among the seven wonders of the ancient world. In such an unlikely city, a tiny Christian community was in existence during Paul’s time. He preaches in this area for a couple of years, and many miracles and wonders were the hallmarks of Paul’s ministry there. 
The selected passage is titled as Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians. Paul used prayer to constantly commune with God. Several facets encompass Paul’s poignant prayer that we can also adopt to shape our prayers as we commune with God.
Posture – Paul bows down before the Father in prayer as he recounts God’s abundant provision upon his mission. Paul understands that his ministry requires him to pray humbly. Our posture in prayer is also significant as Scripture urges us to pray in a position of bowing, kneeling, and prostration in utmost reverence to God.
Privilege – Through this prayer, Paul reminds the Ephesians that they are privileged to be a part of the one family of God. We all are privileged to be a part of God’s family as we derive our name, being, and character from Him.
Primary Request – Paul’s primary request in prayer for the Ephesians is that Christ may dwell in their hearts, that they be rooted and established in love, that they may grasp how wide, long, and deep is the love of Christ and also that they may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God. This should be our priority in prayer.
Powerful Praise – In a fitting doxology, Paul is filled with gratitude and praises God for the power that is at work within the Ephesians and at work in the depths of the created order. When we realize that God’s benevolent power can accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, we are driven to our own knees in worship.
 

PRAYER

Christ who resides in us, we bow before You on the knees of our hearts. We pray that our lives will be rooted and established in love. As You continue to dwell in us, may we be strengthened to comprehend the indescribable love of Christ and be filled with the fullness of God for generations to come. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

O the pure delight of a single hour
  That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
  I commune as friend with friend!



Mrs. Neethi Prasad
(wife of Rev. Christopher P. Daniel, Diocesan Program Manager and Vicar of Jerusalem MTC, Connecticut)

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