Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
EPHESIANS 3:14-21 | 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The final concluding verse of Be Thou My Vision has the telling line, “heart of my own heart, whatever befall.” Heart of my own heart is a phrase with earlier parallels, like “Thou in me dwelling and I in Thee one,” and “I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord.” All these expressions focus on intimacy with God. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians beautifully speaks to the possibility of God strengthening us in our hearts and souls, implanting the attitudes of Christ within us. This enables us to experience and understand all the dimensions of God’s love, in a direct and personal way. Rather than abstract knowledge about Him, we come to enjoy His warm and gracious Spirit, enveloping us with affection and reassurance.
Pray this prayer for someone else, using their name and then pray it for yourself, putting in your own.
Gracious God,
May Your people at VPC come to know the height, depth, length, and width of Your love. May You be the heart or center of our own hearts.
Amen.
