Ephesians 3:16-17

Did you know that something should happen to you when you pray. Now we expect things to happen to other people as we pray for them, the people that we pray for day by day. But as we pray, something should happen to us. You’ve seen that motto that says, “Prayer changes things.” Well, prayer does change things and prayer also changes people. And the first person who ought to be changed is the one who is doing the praying! Listen to Ephesians 3:16-17, “That He [God] 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 you, being rooted and grounded in love.”

To begin with prayer enriches us. Prayer enables us. Prayer establishes us. Let’s look at that, “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory.” Prayer enriches us. Oh how poor we are! We kneel down poor, we stand up rich. How many times have you felt empty, absolutely bankrupt? And then you bow to pray and prayer enriches you. Why? Because prayer puts you in contact with the God of all grace. Prayer gives you a Savior who has unsearchable riches available in your life today. Prayer enriches us.

Secondly, prayer enables us. We’re “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” “Thou art coming to a king large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such none can ever ask too much” (John Newton). And so when you pause to pray, God works in you and gives you divine enablement and God also establishes us. We are “rooted and grounded in His love.” Rooted, the hidden roots in our lives are established, and when the storms start to blow, we aren’t blown over like a bunch of tumbleweeds; grounded. That means a good solid foundation. Prayer is not just for other people. Prayer is for us. As you pray, let God enrich you, enable you and establish you.