“In [Christ Jesus our Lord] we have… boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him…
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:12,14-21
Paul sees and comprehends life from a spiritual point of view. Once he was humbled by the Spirit’s pursuit, blinded to all previous charms, and saved, his eyes opened and his insight and passions were divinely transformed. Persecution of and resistance to God’s people became a relentless desire to know Christ and make Him known. His power came from time on his knees, imploring the Almighty for His effective work in salvation and sanctification. The more he prayed, the more of God he understood and desired and trusted and glorified. (Acts 9:1-9,17-22)
There is something about bowing the knee that breaks heaven open. There is something mysterious and powerful about lowering ourselves before the One who reigns in heaven, about taking the poor position before the Owner of infinite riches of glory. The humbling of self lifts high the Almighty. Acknowledging my finitude magnifies His infinitude. Closing our eyes to all that shines here below makes us long for the greater glories of heaven. We become small, God shows Himself large, and opens limitless possibilities for our own lives and others’.
As children before the Father, we come knowing He loves us and delights to reveal Himself and make His children grow. Are we asking largely for ourselves and those we love and serve? Considering God’s vastness reminds us of the extent to which He acts on behalf of His own. As His power works in us and through our prayers He does far more than we can ask or think. Are we availing ourselves, and others, of His manifold goodness and bounty? What wisdom, love, conception, inspiration, imagination, or breakthrough would we like Him to expand?
Do I regularly pray on my knees before His throne of grace with boldness and confidence? When will I honestly humble myself in posture and heart, reverently submitting my will to the holy Father’s? Bowing self exalts Christ, opens our perspective to His wider greatness, and piques our longing for the high and glorious fulness of Christ. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
“Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!” ~Charles Wesley (1739)
Lord, deepen and widen my prayers to reach the edges of Your measureless fullness, grace, and glory.
As the rain and snow 