The journal, Jerry's and mine, has the above title for this day in 2006, and comes from Ephesians 1:17, a prayer for the Ephesians, reading, "I ask...God..to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing God personally, your eyes to be focused and clear, so that you see exactly what it is God is calling you to do, and will grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life God has chosen for Christians. Oh, the utter extravagance of God's work in those who trust God--endless energy, boundless strength."
"This prayer of Paul's for the people of Ephesus is a "must" prayer! We must pray it for each one in our families, each person in our churches, our neighbors, friends, and each person with whom we come in contact. It is a prayer we also need to pray for ourselves. If we need to make a copy of it, so be it. Make a copy and keep it in a pocket!
Then, I prayed for our family, one by one. I prayed for those in our church, the pastors and their families, by name if I knew them. I prayed then for friends in our neighborhood, then, old friends who have since passed away, and friends I have known all of my life. I prayed for my sisters and their families, and my brother's family whom he had to leave behind after a fatal heart-attack. I prayed for Jerry's sister and her family and both of our moms and dads who have passed into Heaven. I prayed for people that I might meet and asked God to remind me of praying for anyone whom I should meet in the next day or so. I asked God that His Spirit should remind me of this powerful way to pray whenever I met someone new.
I have used Italics in the first paragraph in order to set the prayer apart from our other words. I invite you to copy it, and let it serve you. And now I pray for you and praise God for you and for His utter extravagance in loving us.
Amen, and once again, Amen!
Jo INMN
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