PRAY: Lord, I am rooted in you. Thank you for nourishing me with your love. Help my prayers take wing and go to places I can’t yet imagine.
Wednesday – Day 8
Approaching God – Do we realize how loved we are and who it is that loves us? Allow your mind to slow down and to marvel and rest in knowing that you are loved by the Lord of the universe. When you have begun to feel his delight in you, read this passage once quickly and once slowly. Listen for how loved you are and how much God desires for you.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Listening to God – As you listen to God speak to you through the scripture below, ask the Holy Spirit to open your ears, mind, and heart to receive what God wants to say to you. Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. Listen for what amazing things God wants to do in you and through you. Remember who he is so that you know anything he brings to mind is possible. Marvel at the possibility and give him thanks.
“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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Talking to God – After you are done listening, pray that verse back to God. Is there a reason for praise and thanksgiving? Do you need to confess anything? What do you need from God? What do you need to surrender to him? Ask him for whatever it is you need.
Ministering in God’s Name – Now that you have perceived God’s love, power and desire for you. Pray for the three people God brought to your mind. Pray that they might experience in unique and obvious ways how high, long, wide, and deep God’s love is for them. Pray for more than you can imagine.
Surrendering to God – Ask God to help you remember how loved you are and to help you show that love to the people you will encounter today. Ask him to help you expect more than you can ask or imagine so you pray without the limits of your imagination and expectation.
By Bob Boersma
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