How does Ephesians 1:15 inspire you to pray for fellow believers today? Seeing Faith and Love Up Close “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints” (Ephesians 1:15). • Paul’s report of the Ephesians’ faith and love shows that genuine commitment to Christ has visible fruit. • Hearing about God’s work in others naturally stirs thanksgiving and fuels prayer (Ephesians 1:16). Gratitude That Blossoms Into Intercession • Thanksgiving is the doorway into deeper prayer. When we praise God for evidence of grace in others, we are moved to keep asking Him to add more grace (Philippians 1:3–4). • Paul’s pattern: hear → thank → pray. Our pattern today should mirror his. Faith Worth Celebrating • Faith in the Lord Jesus anchors believers to the unchanging truth of the gospel (Hebrews 12:2). • When you notice a fellow believer standing firm, thank God for planting that faith (1 Thessalonians 3:9–10). • Pray that their faith will keep growing “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). Love That Serves the Saints • Love for all the saints proves faith is authentic (John 13:35). • Pray that love will “abound still more and more in knowledge and every discernment” (Philippians 1:9). • Ask God to empower practical service, sacrificial generosity, and patient endurance in love (1 Corinthians 13:4–7). From Thanksgiving to Targeted Requests Because Paul saw faith and love, he confidently prayed the believers would: • Receive “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17). • Know “the hope of His calling” and “the riches of His glorious inheritance” (Ephesians 1:18). • Experience “the surpassing greatness of His power” (Ephesians 1:19). Praying in Agreement With God’s Will • Scripture reveals God’s desires, so praying along these lines aligns us with Him (1 John 5:14–15). • When we thank God for faith and love we already see, we can confidently ask for deeper revelation, stronger hope, and greater power—requests He delights to answer. Practical Ways to Let Ephesians 1:15 Shape Today’s Prayers • Keep a running list of believers whose faith and love have encouraged you. • Begin each intercession time with gratitude for specific evidences of grace. • Let thanksgiving naturally transition into asking for increased wisdom, hope, and power. • Share with those believers what you see God doing in them; your words may spur more faith and love (Hebrews 10:24). • Persist: “Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. Stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). |
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