Ephesians 3:14-21

From Ephesians 3: 14-21

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Kizer. Graham. Hanau. Brown. Weigel. Cochran. Briody. All from Him.

All His children: Sara and Andy, Joey from BSF, Dad. These are people He loves. 

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen me with power through His Spirit in my inner being.

So that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith.

And I pray that I may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

So that I will see with His eyes, and love the people around me.

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 the glory.

What I've learned as a BSF children's leader this year
(A meditation on Ephesians 3:14-21)

I've learned that I must kneel before the Father, in order to serve the people He loves. I've learned to pray that He would strengthen me with power through His Spirit in my inner being. I pray for the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. I must, I need, I yearn to know this love that surpasses knowledge. I pray that I may be filled to the measure of it, the measure of all the fullness of God.

So that I will see with His eyes, and love the people around me.

On Tuesdays, my heart wants to kneel down and engage with the sweet little girls, who beam up at me during story time. They are four, most of them. Baby teeth. Dimples. Adorable little curls. I want to play princesses with them, let them tell me the names of each one. Which is Aurora? Which is Ariel? They take command, speak knowledgeably. "No, this prince goes with Snow White. This one goes with Cinderella."

But I don't linger with the sweet little ones. I drift over to the angry little boy, all of 5, who hits and pulls pony tails and disrespects everyone around him, including me. Especially me. The boy who makes "poor choices." I'd rather not sit with him. There will be conflicts when others try to join in. (He doesn't like to share.) But I do anyway.

This is why I must kneel before the Father, and ask Him to give me the power to see with His eyes. He loves the angry little boy, who isn't fun to be around. This is a love that surpasses knowledge. I pray that I may be filled to the measure of it, the measure of all the fullness of God.

My Father is refining me. He is softening my edges, which is arduous work. I'm still very sharp. We sing "Trust and Obey," and the little girls nearly burst with enthusiasm. They're keen to get the hand motions just right. The angry little boy flails his arms in the air, purposely getting it wrong. Defiant. 

My Father hears us singing. "Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee." He's given me this advice, to trust and obey. What will happen, when I kneel before Him, and pray that I will be filled with His love, which surpasses knowledge? I pray as I sing. Help me be the gentle, loving person You made me to be.

It's not easy to trust and obey. You must believe in the supernatural. I love the idea of the supernatural. But tangible would be much easier. Something I can see, or grasp. Love this little boy, and you get a big slice of chocolate cake! This isn't how the supernatural works. It's more subtle, obviously.

But spiritual strength is so admirable. It's at the top of my bucket list! To love no matter what, even when others around me aren't strong. To be the strong one, myself. 

Lord Jesus, I pray and pray and pray for this love that surpasses knowledge. I pray that I may be filled to the measure of it, the measure of all the fullness of God.