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Intention

That we would recognise God’s superabundant power at work in us

Scripture

“I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
I pray that you may have the power 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, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him Who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine…”
— Ephesians 3:16-21 (NRSV)

Reflection

Revival is a very personal thing. It is about new life. It’s about consecrating our lives to God and receiving the power of the Holy Spirit He promises.

In his letter to the Ephesian Christians, Paul pens what is among the most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture. Its depth of doctrine and profundity are staggering. There are four specific requests in this prayer which each reflect a vital aspect of Christian spiritual growth. Then, Paul finishes with a heart-warming doxology to the power and benevolence of God.

Paul’s prayers are for the Christians in Ephesus to be spiritually strengthened, to fully embrace Christ’s dwelling in them, to comprehend Jesus’ unfathomable love and to move towards God’s fullness in their lives. We can learn from each of these requests.

If you want to read a full exposition of Paul’s prayer, you can see my post on The Daily Declaration.

Paul concludes his prayer with a soul-inspiring doxology — a hymn of praise to God. In it, he reminds us that God is fully able — and willing — to accomplish all of the things for which Paul has prayed. In a glorious understatement (which seems like an overstatement to us), Paul pyramids descriptions upon descriptions, words on words, adverbs on adverbs in an effort to plumb the depths of God’s power. God is…

Able

Able to do

Able to do what we ask

Able to do what we think

Able to do what we ask or think

Able to do all that we ask or think

Able to do above all that we ask or think

Able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think

Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think

(Illustration from The Believer’s Bible Commentary, William MacDonald)

Paul’s language — and ours — ultimately fails to fully describe God’s superabundant power.

Imagine that kind of power and blessing at work in your life! Thankfully, you don’t have to imagine it. As Paul reminds us, God is able to do these things ‘by the power at work within us’ (emphasis added), strengthening us, growing us, changing us.

We don’t have to imagine anything. God is already at work!

Video

Prayer

Our God and yet our Father, help us to recognise in some small way the full extent of Your willingness to work in us. Thank you that You are ever eager to revive us, to grow us and to empower us. Remove from us any obstacle to full fellowship with You. Convict us of unconfessed sin and restore us to Yourself.

May we surrender ourselves — all of us — to You. Help us to live consecrated, revived lives for Your glory. Strengthen us, dwell in us, show us Your love and guide us unto Your fullness, we pray.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Author Bio

Cody Mitchell is a decorated historian, a classical pianist and a keen writer. At age twelve, Cody started his own history website, History’s Page. He graduated from the Lachlan Macquarie Institute’s Leadership and Civil Society Program in 2022 and is currently a member of the Moree Baptist Church community, where he contributes regularly.

Prayer Points for 31 Days of Prayer & Fasting for Revival

1. To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. Hebrews 12:28-29
2. Pray that the Lamb who was slain might receive the reward for His suffering. Revelation 5:6-14
3. Pray for Revival for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Isaiah 64:1-2

We invite you to support this prayer and fasting campaign to multiply prayer, to see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and revival and transformation for Australia. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for Family, Faith, Freedom, Life, and the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ His son.

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