Thoughts and Prayers

Ephesians 1.15-23

¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, ¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, ¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. ¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

In times of great tragedy we have seen the posts from so many who have used the phrase: Thoughts and prayers for (name the recent tragedy).  A statement that can feel a bit empty when there are things we could be physically doing.  Whether it is making laws that keep people safer, being with families who are suffering, or helping those who have lost homes.  But as we hear it this statement with ears of faith it comes off very different.  We hear the ways in which God is with us and the way others care about us as they bring us before God in prayer.

Paul writes to the church of his constant prayers for them.  He began this church with them.  He has great concern that they continue in faith.  He wants them to thrive in faith and experience the grace of God in their lives.

Have you had that same encouragement from others?  People come to us and remind us that they pray for us often.  Letting us know that they bring our lives before God in their prayers.  They are concerned that we experience the grace and strengthening of God in our lives.  They want us to be well and to be able to serve the church well.  One of those reminders of how we hold each other up as one body together.

Continue in your prayers for those around us who need our prayers.  Those who are experiencing health struggles.  People who are in leadership and feel the burden of such roles.  Others who are looking for hope and comfort in their lives.  Praying for the ones who are brought up in prayers in worship, praying for them through the week. 

And know that the church prays for each of us.  Other people are praying for us.  Just as Paul speaks of his prayers for the church in Ephesus, we are being held up in prayer.  It is what we do as council each time we meet.  Praying for the church.  It is what takes place by several among us who spend much time in prayer for the church and our world.  Praying that we are encouraged in faith.  And it is still the prayer Jesus has offered for all of the church, as we saw in John 17.  Prayers that those who follow him and believe in him will always be with us and in us (John 17.25-26).