his glorious riches

Opening Prayer: Forgive us, O Lord, for operating like we don’t need you.  Forgive us when our pride and self-sufficiency get in the way of what you are trying to do.  Forgive us for relying on ourselves, and our own gifts and abilities, rather than relying on you.  Help us to learn what it means to live and to love out of your glorious riches.  Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16

Journal: Do you typically live life out of his glorious riches, or out of your own strength, abilities, and giftedness?  What would it look like to live out of his glorious riches?

Reflection: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”(Eph. 3:16) Out of his glorious riches.  How often do really I live my life out of his glorious riches?  Truth be told, not very often, I’m afraid.  Most of the time I tend to live out of my own strengths, gifts, and abilities.  God offers me his glorious riches and yet I still try to put my head down and muscle through in my own strength.  Is it because I overestimate my own abilities, or because I underestimate his?  Who knows, maybe it’s a sad combination of the two.   

The only time I tend to rely on his glorious riches is when I have no other choice, when I have reached the end of my rope.  It makes me wonder why it takes me so long to realize that there’s a better way to live.  Why do I make it my last resort instead of my normal reality?  Wouldn’t it be easier if I just relied on his glorious riches to begin with?

Maybe that’s why Paul prayed this prayer for the church at Ephesus.  He knew all too well how tempting it was to try and rely on his own resources, rather than on God’s.  He knew that there are times when relying on our own strengths, gifts, and abilities can actually become an obstacle to what he’s trying to do, rather than a help.

O Lord, help us learn what it means to live out of your glorious riches, rather than our own.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: O Lord, I really do believe that I need you.  Help me to live like it.  Amen.