COMPREHENDING THE MAGNITUDE -- Tomorrow:
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)
An acquaintance with Apostolic prayers, particularly those of Paul, are essential to the formation of sound theology. These are petitions driven by a cognition of the nature of God and the manner of the Kingdom. They presume reliance on a Sovereign God, an interceding Christ, and a ministering Holy Spirit. Where these are not found, sin always dominates, and hope always dies.
Much of the praying that is heard these days is at an extremely low level. It is valid praying, but it is not ultimate praying. It does not incur Divine cursing, but neither does it bring the blessing, for which we have been reconciled to God. Too much praying is tied to mediocrity and disinterest in the hope set before us. I am careful to say that such prayers are not to be avoided. Take the Word of the Lord to heart: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil 4:6). However, we are not to stay in the realm where OUR requests are primary. God has "provided something better for us" (Heb 11:40), and we are to be energetic in our efforts to appropriate it.
The Apostle rose to spiritual heights in his prayer for the Ephesians. He did not descend into the arena of trouble, but rose into the environment of blessing. If it is true that God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3), then we do well to seek them. In the Son, God has "raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places" (Eph 2:6). The purpose for being seated in that realm involves infinitely more than spectating. We have been translated there to participate in the Divine nature. This takes place, however, only to the degree we can comprehend, or understand, the blessing to which we have been called.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Your Son, grant me grace to present prayers to You that are in strict harmony with Your Person and purpose.