Prayer Power

“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 3:20-21, NIV) [Read Ephesians 3:14-21].

Ephesians 3:14-21 is Paul the Apostle’s prayer for the Christians at Ephesus, throughout Asia Minor, and even to the ends of the world—to us today who read his prayer and marvel that the Apostle would kneel to pray for believers everywhere.

Alfred Lord Tennyson, the great English poet, wrote: “More things are wrought by prayer/Than this world dreams of.” Knowing the power of prayer, our means of communication to the very throne of God, borne along by the Holy Spirit who “intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26), how can Christians not pray? I put great store in prayer. It has been my means of spiritual strength ever since I became a Christian at age nine. Prior to that, I had already been praying the much-loved prayer from The New England Primer: “Now I lay me down to sleep, /I pray the Lord my soul to keep; /If I should die before I wake,/I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Modern child psychologists are now saying we should not teach this prayer to our children because it is morose, speaks of death, and will give children a complex. But to me, this simple prayer did (and still does) express trust and commitment to the Lord of glory to care for His own during hours of rest. He keeps His forever vigil beside His own. Try that simple prayer nightly; it works!

Prayer can encompass every care we have, every praise we raise, every thanks we offer, every plea we make. This very day, I am seeing an answer to prayer, and I praise God for it. My second-eldest granddaughter, Dr. Christina Marie Berenguer, is graduating today from five long years of surgical internship. Prior to that, she had four years of college and three years of medical school. Altogether, to reach her goal of Medical Doctor, Surgeon, she has studied hard and worked diligently. Her goal was reached because she felt a calling from God to be a doctor, and she pursued a course to achieve the aim. Many prayed for her, including her parents and grandparents, and others. Lying ahead is her brand new practice and the work she is well-trained to do. As Paul states in his prayer, God did “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Praise be to God! Keep a prayer journal! Mark off answers to your prayers. Then you will see that God rewards our faithful praying. Claim scripture promises as you pray. “Watch and pray.” (Matthew 26:41).

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, June 18, 2010

The Mystery Shared by Paul the Apostle

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:6, NIV) [Read Ephesians 3:1-13].

Paul, in prison at Rome when he wrote the epistle to the Ephesians, gave a personal testimony in chapter 3 about his having been entrusted with the “mystery” which he was commissioned by God to share with the Gentiles, those who, at one time were “far off” (not of the chosen nation, Israel, excluded from citizenship, foreigners to the covenant of promise, Eph. 2:12), but are now, through Jesus Christ, heirs to the blessed promise. When we think about it, we, too, are these outsiders, these Gentiles. And the gospel came to us on its way to someone else! Therefore, we are partakers of the wonderful mystery of grace.

Imagine how happy it made Paul, a Jew himself, to be chosen as the “vessel” to the Gentiles, the “apostle” to the Gentiles, to bear the wonderful “mystery” (message of salvation) to those who were not understood as heirs of the promise made centuries before to Abraham when God said to him, “I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Genesis 17:7, NIV). But all along, God intended that His favor would fall to all people, those of all nations, Jews and Gentiles alike. The “mystery” is that redemption is for all people. God is calling out anyone who will hear and respond to the good news in Jesus Christ. This was seen as a “mystery” because neither Jews nor Gentiles knew before Christ came what God had in mind for all of humankind. The mystery is now revealed: All can come to Christ. The way is made clear and plain; the price has been paid. What was formerly hidden is now revealed. The mystery is uncovered. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” Jesus declared in John 14:6. And herein is the heart of the mystery, now revealed to all who have ears to hear!

Just today I received “good news” from a missionary friend who is working to assist in recovery from the recent Haitian calamity. A person called “Y” has offered his house and yard for a meeting place to teach the gospel and set up a medical clinic to help those in great need. Volunteers are providing medical care and teaching the Word. People are being saved daily. From Peru, another volunteer team is seeking out “men of peace” to have church gatherings in their homes. God is blessing these efforts and others like them around the world. People are turning to Christ daily. The “mystery” is being revealed because people are faithfully sharing the good news that Jesus saves! Praise be to God that we can have a part, as did the great Apostle Paul, in spreading the word of Truth to a seeking, hungering, hurting world. With whom will you share your faith today?

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Thursday, June 17, 2010

God’s Power

With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much
more than anything we can ask or imagine. To Him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time,
forever and ever. Amen. –Ephesians 3:20-21 (NCV)

To what can we liken the power of God?
We cannot measure it by any comprehensible standards.
His power is greater than the ocean’s depths,
Higher than the heavens, broader than the expanse of earth.
It reaches beyond any barriers that can be erected.
It breaks the hardest hearts and enters any lives
Willing to accept the power that can lift and change.

Amazingly, God’s power works in and through His children.
Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, showed the way.
He made the power and love of Almighty God accessible.
Alone, I am weak, helpless, like a leaf tossed in the wind.
With God, I am empowered to do His will, follow His way.
Gratitude wells up like a mighty fountain when I consider
That all-powerful God visits and motivates me. Amen.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, January 5, 2010