There’s not a one of us who doesn’t have a loved one or loved ones in great need—sometimes people that we have fears concerning, that we’re brokenhearted over, sometimes loved ones who are not saved. We really don’t know how to pray for them. With this in mind, I want you to see this Scripture:
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).
This letter was written by Paul when he was in prison. He is emaciated, his scarred body wracked with pain. I want you to see him there lifting his hands to God. He is praying for his loved ones in the church at Ephesus.
And as we study the prayer of Paul here, we’re going to learn how we should pray. Now I want to mention five things, therefore, that you ought to focus on as you pray for your loved ones.
God’s Unfailing Purpose
First of all, backing up to verse 11, focus your prayers on God’s unfailing purpose for them. Paul says, “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul is saying, “I am praying for you according to God’s purpose for you.” He had mentioned God’s purpose for them—that they might know the unsearchable riches of God. Look in verse 8: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
God’s Unfailing Provision
Number two: Focus on God’s unfailing provision for them. Look at verse 16: “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”
Now not only did Paul focus on God’s purpose for his loved ones to know Him, he focused on God’s provision. God is a big God. Bring big prayers to a big God and quit begging God for little things.
God’s Unrivaled Presence
When you pray for your loved ones, focus on God having an unrivaled presence in them. Look in verse 17: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.”
Now, if they need a job, it’s all right to pray for a job. If they need healing, it’s fine to pray for healing. But what Paul is talking about here is that Christ wouldn’t just have a place, but that He would have prominence.
God’s Unending Preciousness
Paul wanted God’s preciousness to be real to them. See verse 18-19: “[That ye] may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Sometimes when I get to this verse, I lay my Bible on the chair. I kneel in front of it. And I put my children’s names in there. And I know I’m praying in the will of God.
That’s what Paul prayed for these saints at Ephesus. He said, “O God, I want them to know how wide Your love is. I want them to know how long Your love is. I want them to know how deep Your love is. I want them to know how high Your love is. O God, reveal it to them.”
God’s Unlimited Possibilities
Look in verse 20: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Focus on God’s unlimited possibilities through them.
Your petitions can never exceed His power. But sometimes His plans exceed our petitions. I thank God for that. And sometimes we pray and we ask God to do one thing, and He does another. Romans 8:27 makes that plain. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
God’s Unceasing Praise
One last thing. Focus on God’s unceasing praise because of them. I came to a time in my own life when I said, “Dear God, I don’t care whether my children are important in the eyes of this world. I don’t care whether they’re rich or famous. But, God, my desire for them is that they’ll bring You glory.”
Just put the Bible before you, get on your knees, and put your loved ones’ names in this prayer, and you’ll find a thrilling power. And the wonderful thing is, you know you’re praying according to the will of God. ©2022 Love Worth Finding Ministries Inc.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version.
Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) was a beloved author and preacher and the longtime pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. This article is condensed from a sermon preached May 31, 1989. Used by permission of the Rogers Family Trust. LWF.org/ARLC
Photograph: Love Worth Finding Ministries