The prayer of an Ephesian

As we conclude teaching through Ephesians I’m somewhat saddened that we didn’t allow the time to go deeper into this phenomenal book. This book is one that is so simple, yet so profound in its entirety. It is a book that has transformed my life and is foundational to my theology. It pierces my deepest feelings and illumines my darkest corners. I was thinking through the best way to share the overview of this book and I think I’ve landed on vulnerability. Being a prayer journaler, I figured for the sake of this book we just taught, I would share with you a prayer that hopefully you could join in with me to simply pray through this book.

“Father Your grace is truly sufficient in my life. Your grace is more than enough for me. My hope is caught up fully in You. Thank You Father that my salvation was not an afterthought, but that before the foundation of the world you predestined me. To the praise of his glorious grace in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. That the slain Lamb would intercede for me, that in the courtroom of Heaven you would label me “not guilty”. Father I rest in the grace given through the Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Lord thank you that nothing done in me was not done by you!
Father grant us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of our hearts enlightened, that we might know the hope to which you have called us.
When we were enemies, You made us friends. When we were dead, You called us to walk again. When we were children of wrath, You made us children of light. When we deserved death, You showed us mercy. How, O God, can you call me a masterpiece? In what might I boast other than the cross of Christ? For by grace I have been saved through faith. I know that it is not my doing but a gift from You. Father, thank you that you made this dead man walk!
My King I do remember the time when I was alienated from you, but now in Christ Jesus I who was once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For you my King are my peace! What heights of love, what depths of peace! My comforter, my all in all… here in the love of Christ I stand! In Christ alone!
O the mystery of your grace. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, member of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. O that He would die for the ungodly! O that you would look down on me and loosen the grip of death! For this reason I bow my knees before you Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
Father let me put away my falsehood, let me not sin in my anger, let the thief no longer steal, let my mouth no longer curse others… O God let me not grieve Your Spirit! Rather might I rebel! When I am in dark places might I rebel against sin and the control it had over me! The control that it no longer has! Fight for me my King! The battle before me I cannot win, help me to rebel but stand in my stead!
O Lord how can I imitate the Most High? How do I display the image of God through this sinners body? Can it be? Only by way of a cross, only as a beloved child of You my King. Lord teach me to look more like You. Thank you for placing me in a position where I can imitate the King.
Finally, let me be strong in You. Let this soldier’s strength come from his King. Allow me the shield of faith that I might extinguish the flames of the evil one by hoping in You. Allow not doubt, nor guilt, nor faithlessness, nor sin pierce me. When I can no longer hold the shield hold it for me. For you alone are my hope, my strength and my joy. I will trust in you with my whole life. I will trust in you in all circumstances. I will know you as my Savior, trust you as my Lord and worship You as my God!
Thank you that you have made me a saint, I pray that you would convict me to live a saintly life. Amen.”