Oftentimes people say to me, “John Ed, please pray for me.” Also oftentimes people say, “John Ed, how can I pray for you?”

Those are good questions. How do we pray for each other? I hope it is not just a casual meaningless question that we ask. That question can produce powerful relationships with each other and with God.

I was reading this week in Ephesians 1:15. Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and says to them that he is going to be praying for them. Then he lists how he will pray for them. It is a good insight for us.

1.) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” v. 17 Genuine knowledge comes from God. The Old Testament teaches us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” We must pray for each other for Godly wisdom.

We live in a day and age where we so much need God’s wisdom. We are making critical decisions. Please pray for me as I pray for you for Godly wisdom which comes only from God.

2.) “The eyes of your understanding will be enlightened.” v. 18 There are so many things in life that are puzzling. There are so many things we don’t understand. More and more God will turn on the lights in our minds to enlighten our understanding. We will never understand everything because only God does that – however the more we understand situations of life, the more we can be effective to minister in those situations.

3.) “That you may know what is the hope of His calling.” v. 18 I sense that a lot of people who don’t have much hope seem to get discouraged and despondent and depressed. That is a result of our trusting in “our calling.” Our prayer is to have the hope of “His calling.” He never calls us to a place that He doesn’t supply everything that is necessary for us to minister effectively in that situation. May we pray that we might experience the hope of His calling.

4.) “The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” v. 18 The word riches always catches our attention. We usually relate it to money or financial investments. The greatest riches are the riches and the inheritance of the saints. Jesus taught us that moths, rust, and thieves can take away normal riches – the riches of the inheritance of the saints will never be affected by the economy or thieves or anything else.

5.) “To know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believed, according to the working of His mighty power.” v. 19 The power for life each day comes from Him. We tend to think that we will get our power from positive thinking, or more education, or trying to get to know more people. The real power is from God. Paul said it is the “exceeding greatness.” That means that it exceeds anything that we can imagine. He goes on to indicate that “that power will be sufficiently far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age or in that which is to come.” v. 21 That is complete power. Paul reminds us that we don’t fight against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities. We must pray for that power for each other.

Here are five answers if you ask me “how can I pray for you?” I will pray for

1) Godly wisdom

2) Enlightened understanding

3) Hope of His calling

4) Riches of His inheritance

5) Know His power.

I hope we all “Do not cease to give thanks for making mention of you in my prayers.”  v. 16