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.
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 3:14-21 NIV)
I’ve always liked this prayer the Apostle Paul prayed in his letter to the Ephesians. I mean, who wouldn’t want something to strengthen them? Who wouldn’t want God’s power, rooted in love? Who wouldn’t want to have such a deep understanding of Christ’s love for us that we are filled with God!?!
I usually just skim through the last verses of this chapter as a lovely benediction to the prayer. But today somebody pointed out something that’s worth focusing on.
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 3:14-21 NIV)
Jesus IS able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
So what are we asking?
What are we imagining?
Sometimes in life it’s easy to quit dreaming—to quit seeking Big Hairy Audacious Ideas—to quit pressing into new areas of growth. Sometimes we’ve become tired of the pressing. Sometimes we’re worn out from the battle. Sometimes the world (or our own thoughts) has convinced us that we are too old or too worn or too… whatever… to have any more impact.
It’s like the slow drip, drip, drip of sands through the hourglass convinces us that we are smaller than the God of the Universe intended us to be.
Which means it’s time to ask God what we should be asking for. It’s time to ask God what we should be imagining. It’s time to take a deep breath, focus on the Holy Spirit within us, and trust that the overflowing-with-love God of the universe, who CAN do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, is calling us to just that—MORE.
God,
Thank you for your grace, love, strength, and mercy poured out on us.
Help us to know what to ask for and what to imagine, so that we can continue to grow into the fullness of who Jesus Christ created us to be, and so we can reflect your glory in our world.
We ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.