EPHESIANS 3:20-21: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” NLT
OBSERVATION: Is my prayer life stormproof? Am I equipped to persevere the storms of life? Am I experiencing the presence of God in an ever-deepening way, or is my life being tossed to and fro by every storm of life?
Our prayer lives can be stormproof!
When we moved into our home in Weatherford, Texas, we added some additional landscaping to our home, including several trees. One was a Chinese Pistache tree. It had a beautiful shape and we felt it would add just the right touch for a front yard tree. Yet, over the years this tree never grew. It remained alive, but after over 10 years it was not much bigger than when we planted it. I had tried everything, but with no results.
Then a storm hit!
We had one of those prolonged Texas downpours, coupled with strong winds. The little tree could not take it. When the storm was over it was laying on its side. When we were finally resolved that this was the end of our tree, we began to shop for a new one. When the nursery delivered the new tree the installers simply pulled the old tree out of the ground.
It had been 10 years and the tree never established a deep root system!
That little Chinese Pistache was only living in three dimensions. It had established a small area to rest its roots. You could measure the area’s height, width, and length. This tree never grew because it never pushed its roots deep into the soil. It lived a very surface life in very shallow soil.
I think this is the way we live our life in Christ many times. We trust Him to a point but we never really go deep. Paul prays that the Ephesian believers would experience the fourth dimension of God’s love in their life. Paul prays that they will go deep in Christ!
- “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT
Note the words in Paul’s prayer. He prays for…
- Their inner strength through His Spirit,
- Christ’s home to be established in their hearts,
- Their roots to grown down into God’s love to keep them strong,
- Their discovery of the depth of God’s love,
- Their experience (participation) in the love of Christ,
- Their completion in Christ,
- Their experience of the fullness of Christ’s life and power.
In 2018 we planted a new tree, a Lacey Oak, in our front yard. It was only one year before we moved to Florida. I was worried about this tree because of my experience with the Chinese Pistache. We have been leasing our home since we moved and have a Gardner who is taking care of the landscaping. Periodically he sends me pictures of our yard. The first thing I look at is the Lacey Oak in my front yard.
This new tree is growing and flourishing.
There was no deficiency in the soil. There was no problem with the location. There was only a difference in the depth of the root structure. One never reached beyond its limitations. The other began to sink its roots deep into the soil beneath. Its roots were not content to live in a confined space. It pressed deeper to draw the water and nutrients it needed to grow.
We, too, can grow and flourish if we establish our roots deeply in the love of Christ!
When Paul speaks of the power that works within us, the power that changes ordinary prayer into breakthrough prayer, he is speaking of the depth of God’s love! It is a prayer that flows out of a deep communion with God that will survive the storms of life. As we are changed by God’s love, as our roots go deep into the soil of His Word, as we learn to abide in Christ – our prayer lives will be transformed!
- “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
I don’t know about you, but I could use some answers to prayer that accomplish infinitely more than I can ask or think. How is this possible? The power of prayer does not reside in us. The power of prayer is found in Christ alone. Yet, the depth of our faith, our trust in Him, will determine whether we can wait upon His answer, give up, or worse – take matters into our own hands.
- Love (Christ) calls us to wait!
- Love (Christ) calls us to persevere!
- Love (Christ) calls us to trust God for the answer!
- Love (Christ) releases infinitely more than we can ask or think!
Lord, in these tumultuous times, as the storm of life rages on, I need to have a prayer life that is stormproof! Grant me the grace to sink my roots deep into the soil of Your Love and Your Word. Help me to know the height, width, length, and the depth of Christ’s love! AND ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN I CAN ASK OR THINK!
In Jesus Name!
