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Ephesians 3:16-17: Prayer for Strength


Ephesians 3:16-17
[16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

There is an interesting thing about having someone pray that we would be strengthened. It implies that we are weak and need strength. I think that there is a part of us that resists that prayer. We celebrate being self-confident, independent, not needing others. Even our lack of commitment to church attendance, and to serving and fellowshipping together could indicate that we don’t take seriously our need to be strengthened. The fact is that in our own strength we are only capable of failure. Jesus made it clear that apart from him we are powerless!

John 15:5
[5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

The Apostle Paul knew that Jesus’ words were true. He was used by God to do amazing things. Yet, he didn’t claim to have any strength of his own.

Philippians 4:13
[13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We need the strength that only God can provide. I am encouraged by the fact that God invites us to come to him for strength. He not only has all power and authority. But, he is willing to give of his resources to us, generously, without question.

James 1:5
[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

I love the fact that God doesn’t make us grovel. He does not demean us when we come to him. He is generous. He is loving. So, how do we receive this necessary strength. Through His spirit in our inner being. There is no substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul speaks of the powerful Spirit of God in many places. One of those places is in Romans 8:

Romans 8:9-11
[9] You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10] But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

How much power do you need? How about the same level of power that raised Jesus from the dead? That is available to every believer. Paul prays that the Ephesians believers, and all believers would find that strength. He knows that we need it. In Chapter 6 of Ephesians he will describe the warfare that we will be up against.

I encourage you to receive the strength that God wants you to have. Draw close to him. Ask him to strengthen you. He will. He gives generously. And lovingly.

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