Welcome to the POG Blog! Glad you are here!

Today's scripture is: Ephesians 1 ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I love when Paul prays.  He is letting us in on his heart for the Ephesian Christians.   He has deep desires for them.  His prayer in some sense casts vision for where they are moving spiritually.

He prays for them to KNOW  - Hope,  Riches and Power

Notice Paul is already confident that these things are theirs - he is praying that they might "KNOW" what they already have!

This reminds me of old Aggie joke. (Sorry Aggies!) The Aggie came into the hardware store to return a chainsaw he had previously purchased with the complaint, "You said this saw could cut three cords of wood a day.  I have worked hard all day and only cut a half a cord!"  "Well" the store attendant replied, "Let me check it out for you to see what is wrong!" The attendant took the saw, pull the rope and the engine started as designed!  The Aggie jumped back exclaiming, "What's that noise?"

He didn't "know" the power he held in his hands.  He was just working real hard - but never started the engine- never accessed the power!

Read the prayer again.  Jesus has already purchased and won Hope, Spiritual Riches and Power with our name on it - Paul is praying that we might come to "know" what is already ours!

It's like several months ago I was helping my son do a deep clean of his room and discovered a birthday card from grandma behind his desk.  It had $40 in it!  It was over a year old.

He had riches - and didn't "know" it!

I am more and more convinced that God has already provided abundantly for all that I need to live fully alive for Him everyday.  He deeply desires that I come to know it - and in knowing it to act like it.  That I sense is living by faith.  To live like God and His promises are real.

I hope this truth oozes throughout my being today and infiltrates every moment, every thought and every action!

I get to discover (know) all the resources (hope,riches, power) God has already purchased for me to live exceptionally alive today!  That makes today sort of an adventure into the love and presence of God.

What about you?  How does this "knowing thing" grab you today? How about a day of getting to know what is already yours?

Enjoy!

delton