¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a]in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Last week we looked at Jesus praying for God to be glorified in the church, and this week, Paul prays similarly. This seems a pretty good precedent to pray likewise. Jesus saw God being glorified through the unity of believers with God and with one another, and this resulting in further believers. Paul has a very similar theme, phrased differently. Paul seeks for the Father to be glorified in the church, as they are filled with the fullness of God and they fully grasp the full extent of God’s love for them. Paul has been explaining in the previous section that the church is the demonstration, to the power and authorities in the heavenly realms, of God’s grace and power to bring lost and divided people into love, unity and hope. Therefore, let us follow Paul’s lead in our prayers for one another – what greater thing is there to pray for  each of us than to be filled with the fullness of God and to fully appreciate God’s love. It seems to me that these are prayers God is eager to answer!

So maybe, we can model this prayer of Paul by praying for one another in these words, “Heavenly Father, we recognise your purpose and power to be glorified in the church. Fill our church and [person x] with your fullness and may they be bowled over by your love for them. To the glory of Jesus, Amen.”

With love and blessing,

Roland