What is prayer for you? Is it something that you fall back on when times get tough? Is it something you go to when there is a need and you don’t know how to fix it? Prayer is something far more. Prayer is, in its deepest sense, communication with the God of the universe.
Recently, I was made aware of a verse that I’ve read many times and have even preached. The intellectual awareness was there, but the profound meaning was missing. Consider this – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” – Ephesians 3:20.
Someone gave me a paper with the verse written slightly different. It appeared in pyramid form.
ASK
ALL that we ask
All that we ask or THINK
ABOVE all that we ask or think
ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think
EXCEEDING abundantly above all that we ask or think
ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Depending which word you choose to accent, the meaning is different and is also multiplied by the pyramid.
God knows my heart, and I’m truly seeking revival for my own life, my family, my church, my community, my country. Our church has been praying for several years for a genuine movement of the Holy Spirit in our town. Not only does this verse speak of our great God, but it is also a promise to be claimed. Prayer is one thing. Claiming what God has already said and making it part of one’s own life is quite another. We have prayed the prayer, but today I claim revival for my church and town. It’s as good as done.
I believe it was E. M. Bounds who said, “Nothing exists beyond the possibilities of prayer, that exists within the will of God.” Is it God’s will for HIs church to be revived? Absolutely! Does He wish to save the sinner? Most definitely! Can He? He “…is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think….” We can ask exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think because He is able.
We can’t begin to realize all that God could do or wants to do. For Him, it’s a small thing to send His Spirit with power on a town. It’s a small thing for Him to bring conviction to this country. He turned the hearts of the nation of Israel back to Him and God can certainly do the same thing for the USA.
Let’s allow God to work His work. Don’t hold anything back from Him, but give yourself wholeheartedly to Him. He wants to accomplish in and through you so much more than you could possibly imagine.
Knees for the Nations 
Only with a prayer of brokenness we will see revival in our land. We must seek the Lord while he may be found.
We teach on prayer constantly. We teach a person’s spiritual life will never be greater than their prayer life.
If we want to see our country revived we must increase our prayer life. Churches need to come together in prayer. We must break the denominational barriers hindering true revival in this country. Pray pray pray!
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I’ve always cherished that verse and you’ve presented more insight. This passage is a doxology, a song or statement of praise to ago. I love the graphic descriptive words with special emphasis of his abundance. Our God is lavish in everything he does. We must be lavish in prayer and praise.
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