A Prayer for Inner Growth

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul offers us up a prayer for inner growth; a prayer that speaks to our need today just as it did to the church he planted almost two thousand years ago: 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 of the saints, 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 of the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19).

Paul is making three powerful requests here. First, he is asking that they be strengthened by the Holy Spirit--who resides in every believer--so that they will be divinely enabled to successfully live the Christian life. Secondly, he is praying that the church would be able to understand the magnitude of the enormous love that Christ has for them. And finally, he prays the life, character and virtues of God Himself would be fully developed in them, which is what we commonly define as spiritual growth.

The idea "dwell" means to settle in and be at ease. As we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell, to strengthen us, our lives become more and more pleasing to God. Knowing the depth of His love for us through Jesus Christ allow us to dwell in a deeper relationship with Him. Our inner growth is both a product of and enabled by the fullness of the love of God---the One who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (v.20)

Is it any wonder that Paul, during one of the more difficult times in his life, could boldly proclaim: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13) ?