READING: EPHESIANS 3:14-21
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 hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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, for ever and ever! Amen.
REFLECTION
It's Friday! For many people the end of the working week - unless you work weekend shifts or you have small children when your working week goes on forever, or at least until the kids go to bed!

We hope you are enjoying our podcasts and especially the worship song which ends each podcast. Thank you to Nick Law and Becca Staniforth from STC Worship. This week's podcasts have continued our reflections on Paul's letter to the Ephesian church and how these timeless words can still inspire us today in our busy 21C lives.

Today our week's reflections come together in Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church (Eph 3:14-21) One of the most famous, well known prayers in the Bible. It is an extraordinary prayer - full of passion and purpose - full of grace and truth. In our daily podcasts we usually encourage you to read the whole passage during the daily whilst we focus on one or two key verses. Not today. All the verses in today's reading are key! Let me read this prayer to you.

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 hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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, for ever and ever! Amen.

There is so much to consider here; to much for a short podcast so let me encourage you to read/ listen to this prayer again today at least three times - and then see what happens!

Consider these two foundational truths contained in this prayer:

Firstly, the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul prays that ‘out of his glorious riches he (God) may strengthen you with power through his Spirit’ (v.16) and that ‘you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God’ (v.19). The Lord wants us to know this power every day - all we need to do is come before him, open up,our lives and ask!

Secondly, the Purposes of God’s Love.

We can never fully understand or grasp the enormity of God's love for us but Paul gives a wonderful image of God making his home in us, being one with us (v17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then he goes much further as his prayer seems to take him into the courts of heaven! Listen ... And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. vv17-19 God's love is that big! Paul states what seems a paradox, to know that which surpasses knowing; howev