2011 New Year’s prayer

Attempting to fashion a paper New Year’s greeting to accompany a mailing by another ministry, I thought of Ephesians 3:20-21 as the Scripture verse to be included. As I looked at this verse in different translations, thinking about what else the greeting should say, I saw more of the third chapter and was impressed to (only) put the prayer from verses 14-21.

Then, it occurred to me to read and then pray this prayer for someone everyday. So I’ve started that (and I’m also writing down for whom I am praying it.) That same day, I was speaking to someone and thought of praying this for them.

Then, today on the television program “Discovering the Jewish Jesus,” the Rabbi was speaking of prayer, and mentioned the prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 – saying we should pray it everyday for ourselves and others. (I think they are doing a study of the tabernacle, and how it is a pattern for how we are to approach God.) I really felt like that was a confirmation for what I was to do. Later, someone called me for prayer, and I had another opportunity to pray this for a specific person.

So, here is Ephesians 3:14-21 from http://www.biblegateway.com/ (without footnotes), the New King James Version (NKJV):

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Also, since that verse is speaking of love, I’m reading 1 Corinthians 13 everyday as well. Here, from the same source and translation as previous passage, is 1 Corinthians 13:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And
though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

…and my journey with Him continues…