“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened . . .”- Ephesians 1:17
In Chapter 2 (“The Greatness of Prayer”) of Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, Timothy Keller finds it remarkable that in all of St. Paul’s writings, his prayers for his friends do not address changing their circumstances. That doesn’t mean it is wrong to pray for our daily needs. Rather, Paul’s prayers reveal what he believed was the most important thing God could give his friends.
That most important thing was to know him better. Paul then explains this means having “the eyes of your heart” enlightened. Pastor Keller notes:
“To have the ‘eyes of the heart enlightened’ with a particular truth means to have it penetrate and grasp us so deeply that it changes the whole person.”
It is more critical to receive this fuller knowledge of God than a change of circumstances. We must know God better in order to face life’s circumstances, good or bad. Pastor Keller summarizes:
“Without this powerful sense of God’s reality, good circumstances can lead to overconfidence and spiritual indifference. . . . without his enlightened heart, bad circumstances can lead to discouragement and despair.”
Today’s question: What Bible passages have helped you draw closer to God following your vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Take hold of God”
