Today is September 1

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”

Today’s reading is from the book of Ephesians, chapter 1.

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

As we come to an end of our week, can you reflect on what it means that Paul prays that we would ‘know God better’. That we would know His hope, and His inheritance, and His power? Do you feel – today – like you know Him this deeply?

Sometimes, there are seasons of faith where you might feel an incredible closeness to God… and deep sense of knowledge of His character. There are also seasons of faith where you feel far off. Where you feel like you don’t know God well at all. Maybe you don’t feel like you ‘know’ hope. Or power. You don’t know what it means to be called to the riches of his glorious inheritance. Listen again, and allow yourself to be honest about how you feel as you come to God today.

Would you allow this prayer of St Paul to hold you up and draw you nearer to God today? From the ancient church, believers have prayed this prayer forward for other believers – for us even! Paul prays in a verb tense that implies he asks and keeps asking and keeps asking… that this prayerful request is ongoing. Pray for yourself today, to know God better. And pray also for generations of believer still to come… pray forward… that they would have the eyes of their hearts enlightened to the truth of who God is.

Music Credit:
"More than Anything" - Vineyard Worship (YouTube)