Monday 26th January
Quiet your heart and mind. Consider breathing deeply and exhale slowly. Focus your mind on God.
“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song..."
Psalm 95:2
Ponder: List 5 things about God that you are thankful for. Sit quietly and speak your thanks to Him.
Scripture
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 1:15-17
First, listen for what this prayer says to you. Insert your name and imagine someone is praying this for you. Read the verses again slowly. What message do you hear?
Praying for a knowledge that transforms
Paul’s prayer for the believers in Ephesus provides us with an inspiring example. Rather than beginning with a list of material needs, he starts with a grateful heart, celebrating 2 essential marks of living faith: Trust in the Lord’s will and love for one’s brothers and sisters. This gratitude and trust are grounded in the first 14 verses, which provide a perspective on God’s action and existence. It is this fixed gaze on God that compels Paul to trust, leading to gratitude.
Thus, his central request is not for deliverance from difficulties or earthly blessings, but that they may receive a ‘spirit of wisdom and revelation’. The apostle’s greatest desire is for them to know God in a more intimate, personal and transformational way. This wisdom transcends intellect; it is the spiritual ability to see life from God’s perspective.
During these days of communal prayer, the greatest gift we can seek for ourselves and others is full knowledge of the glorious Father. It is through this growing relationship that all other areas of our lives find their true meaning and direction. We must also express sincere gratitude to our Father.
Prayer Reflections
Like Paul, take a moment to thank God for the faith and love evident in the lives of your fellow Christians. What dominates your prayers these days? How can you incorporate asking for more wisdom and revelation into your daily life? In practical terms, what does it mean to have a ‘full knowledge’ of God rather than merely knowing information about Him? What practical steps can you take during the next 40 days to actively seek this transformational knowledge of God?Arthur Lupion, Regional Vice President for Latin America, TeachBeyond
Now ask God who you can pray this prayer for. Insert their name(s) as you pray.
Kids’ Question: Does something you heard today make you want to know God better?
