Paul’s Four Prayers
Abba, Father of our Lord Jesus, I thank You for all my family and friends, and I ask that You give us each the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus: that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened; that we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us, the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of Your mighty power, which You wrought in Christ, when You raised Him from the dead, and set Him at Your own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church.i
And this I pray, that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that we may approve things that are excellent; that we may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; that we may be filled with the fruits of righteousness, by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. ii
For this cause we also ask, Abba, that we might be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that we might walk worthy of You, being pleasing in Your sight, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of You, that we might be strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, giving thanks to You, Who have made us partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of Your dear Son, through Whose blood we have redemption and forgiveness of sins.iii
Abba, I ask that You grant us, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might by Your Holy Spirit in our inner man; that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, and that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to aspire with all saints toward the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, that we might be filled with Your Spirit. Now all praise be to You, Abba, Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto You be all glory in the church through Christ Jesus in this time, and in all eternity.iv
i Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Eph 1:16-22)
ii And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Php 1:9-11)
iii For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Col 1:9-14)
iv 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 fulness 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. (Eph 3:16-21)