Prayers of Paul 03

Ephesians 1
15Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus with an earnest and fervent heart. First he prays that, through the gifts of wisdom and revelation, they will come to know God better. Wisdom, because they must be able to discern God’s voice; and revelation, because we can only know of God that which He chooses to reveal to us.

With their spiritual eyes opened through the gifts of wisdom and revelation, they will then be able to ‘see’ what God has given to them. Paul lists 3 things he wants them to realise that God has given to them: His calling, His inheritance and His power.

First, Paul prays that they would know “what is the hope of His calling.” Another version puts it this way, “you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” We have been called by God. And if God has called us to do something or to be something, we can know beyond a shadow of doubt that He will make it possible. This is the hope of His calling—that anything He calls us to is possible even though it may seem impossible.

It is vital for us to maintain our hope. If faith is the assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1), then when we lose hope, our faith is crippled. Imagine trying to pray in faith regarding something for which you have no hope. You can’t!

And remember, hope starts with vision, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” And that vision comes through revelation from God.

Let’s pray that God would give us a revelation of Himself and that our eyes would be opened to the hope of His calling. Also, let’s pray for those who have lost hope:
« Those who’ve lost hope in their circumstances.
« Christians who’ve lost hope in their walk.
« Those who’ve lost hope for their nation.
« Those who’ve lost hope for themselves.
And if you are included in any of these categories, allow God to refresh your vision and restore your hope.