—Chapter Twenty-Eight —
Grandchildren. What a blessing! In the past three years, I have been blessed with four, and more are on the way. It has been fun taking them to the park and watching all the children play. Their imaginations were contagious. A little boy pressed his chin to his chest as he marched. A little girl happily played like a mom, chattering and swinging her doll with great care. One child discovered a flower underneath a pile of leaves. To him it was a treasure. I overheard him telling the flower, “When Daddy brings flowers to Mommy, she is s-o-o-o happy!” Now he had the opportunity to do the same! His effervescence spilled over on all who watched from the park bench. With the agility of his small fingers, he pulled up this little flower, roots and all. His little face beamed with delight. He hid this limping flower behind his back until he was ready for the big moment. With the thrill of delight and anticipation of hugs and kisses, he presented his treasure saying, “Here, Mom. I picked this just for you!”
I looked at Paul’s prayer for the believers in Ephesus. It unfolded like petals on a rose. There was an exciting potential ready to be discovered in its unfolding. According to Paul, I needn’t miss out on the unfathomable riches Christ wants to share with me. There’s no need to continually live in despair. According to this prayer, life can be bursting with hope. God will give me “exceeding abundantly above all that I could ever ask or think.”90
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name... [Ephesians 3:14-21 NASB]
“I bow my knees before the Father.” In humility, I bow before my loving Father who wants the best for me. I pray, not as if I’m looking down while shuffling my feet and hoping that if I ask ever so faintly He will hear me and grant what I pray. No! I come boldly, with confidence91 before His Throne of Grace.92
I can come to my Father, not on my own merits, but because of Christ. I can call Him Father because Christ made it possible when he willingly shed His blood for me.93 Now I can approach my Father, cleansed94 and pure. I come because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father except through Him.95
I gently pull back the next petals, looking for more truth.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…”
I asked for what my Father will lavish upon those who ask: His power. I have no power within me, but God is the power I need. Saying the words does not create power; it comes as I abide with Him.
“Lord, I need Your power to walk away from those painful days that could keep me in bondage until I die. I need Your power to reach toward what lies ahead, to press on toward the goal for the prize of Your upward call in Christ Jesus.”96
As more petals unfold, my heart becomes more challenged as I ask Christ to dwell in my heart through faith.
“Lord, I come before You because I believe You. I want You to expose the attitude of my heart. I want You to abide with me, take up residence, and clean out those areas that remain hidden.”
As I spent that time with the Lord, He began to bring to my mind those things that I needed to clean out or let go. Knowing about areas in my life that need to change was one thing, but taking the time to stay with the Lord until I agreed with Him was not as easy. Time spent with God gave me the opportunity to change my heart about many things.
As still other petals opened, completing the full beauty of this flower, I was eager to pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know the love that surpasses knowledge.
“Lord, if I am rooted and grounded in Your love, investing my time with You, if I walk in the truth of what I know, then I can grasp with the rest of the believers Your immeasurable love! I don’t want to hope for victory others have had as I listen to their stories. I want Your victory to be lived out in me! I want to be included in the celebration of Your love!”
More petals declare:
“…that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
As I experience that love, I am filled to overflowing with the fullness of God in my life. I may not be able to describe adequately what that “fullness” looks like, but I know how it feels; When God fills, I have indescribable joy. He has given me boldness I have never had before. I can stand straight and tall, knowing that whatever the battle, I’ve already won! His filling is continuous, never-ending, never empty. Floodgates cannot contain the immeasurable love of Christ that flows through me.
I want my prayer to be sweet incense that surrounds the living God who sits on His throne. I want to offer Him one rose petal at a time, as I thank Him for Who He is and for what He has already done in my life. I don’t want to miss out on all that He is going to do that I have yet to see!
Like that child who was bubbling because of the anticipated hugs and kisses in response to what he gave, so I anticipate with joy how God will respond to the praise I give Him. My prayer may be missing a few petals or the stem may be bent, but with joy I can bring the worship that is welling up inside of me and present it to my Father, saying, “Here, Lord, I prayed this just for You!”
It’s just like God to say, “Thank you for your rose, Donna. I enjoyed the sweet aroma from your heart. And now, because I love you, I want you to have this bouquet! It’s immeasurably more than you asked or thought!”97
My circumstances have not changed. I still live in the same place, but I am comfortable knowing God’s presence fills my home. My days are filled with pressures and deadlines, but God is with me. I’m still unclear about so many things, but God has the answers. Everything is still the same, except for one thing: It is the supernatural power of God that enables me to see my circumstances differently. What has changed is my heart!
Now I say with confidence, “I know that power! I know that strength!”
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us; to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20 NASB).
Copyright 2001, 2004 Donna Christensen
All rights reserved.
Published Online by: The Biblical Reader
www.biblicalreader.com