There is power in this prayer
I will never forget walking into the intensive care unit and finding my friend kneeling at the bedside of his 17-year-old son, who had been stricken with spinal meningitis that appeared seemingly from out of nowhere.
One day, he was a promising young athlete, and the next day, he was fighting for his life. Not knowing exactly what to do, I rounded the bed and knelt beside my friend. We both looked at the same thing—his son, covered with tubes—as we listened to monitors beeping in the background.
I didn't know what to pray, so I went with a prayer from Scripture. In the face of that heartbreaking moment, I prayed Ephesians 3:
“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And I pray that you…” (in that moment, I squeezed my friend's shoulder) “...being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all of the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” (Ephesians 3:14-18, NIV)
Making it personal, I added, "...is the love of Christ… for you and your boy." I continued with the scripture: “...And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19, NIV)
Pastor John Stott provides a beautiful little summary of this gorgeous prayer. He says, "Paul's prayer is like a staircase by which he ascends higher and higher in his aspiration for his people. It has four steps whose keywords are strength, love, knowledge, and fullness."
As my friend and I stood after the prayer, I reminded him that Paul wasn't quite done speaking yet. I reminded him of the final two verses of that powerful prayer:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)
Just so you know, God answered that prayer! His boy recovered, and today he is thriving! I love the fact that God can answer prayers even when we struggle with words.
Never forget, my friend, you are a miracle.
