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.”