Ephesians 1:15-19 (NASB)
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Paul tells the Ephesians that he is praying for them. Not only that, but he tells them the specific prayers he brings before the throne of God. He has several specific petitions for them in verses 18 and 19.

1. Paul first prays for their sanctification through wisdom and the knowledge of Him.
2. That they would know just how special they are because God has called them and brought them into His family,
3. And finally that they would be humbled in view of the death they no longer face through the forgiveness of sin, and that they would have confidence knowing that His power is above all.

Our inclination always seems to be to pray for the physical health of a family member or loved one, but as I meditated on these verses, I realized that the substance of Paul’s petitions are much more important.

There is such a wide level of difference in the holiness of Christians. I wonder — is it because our prayers and petitions for ourselves and others are more often about health and welfare rather than sanctification and growing in our knowledge of Him? I’m sure there was illness, suffering, and poverty in the church of Ephesus. But Paul chose to pray for their holiness.

Father, I pray for the holiness of the saints, specifically the petitions of Paul in Ephesians 1. I pray those petitions for myself as well. May You be glorified as we grow in holiness. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,