Ephesians 1:22-23
“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.”

In this last part of the Apostle Paul’s prayers from Ephesians 1:15-23, how Paul ends this prayer is also very important.  While, on the one hand, Paul is continuing the praise and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ like a “psalmist” would, yet on the other hand Paul is making a very strong theological statement about the authority of Jesus to answer our prayers – because the Father has “placed all things under [Jesus’] feet”!

Have you ever thought about how you end your prayers?

Do your prayers end in “the victory of Jesus Christ” on your behalf?  Or more of a sense anxiousness and uncertainty?  I struggle to end with a sense of victory and confidence, maybe like you also do.

Here is why I have to continue to remind myself of Jesus’ victory on my behalf:

• I surrender to Jesus my control by placing it “under His feet” so that He can have the control.

• I believe that the Father has “appointed everything” – all resources for the answer to my prayers – “at Jesus feet” trusting in both Jesus’ ability and resource to answer according to my need (not necessarily according to my want.

• The “fullness of Jesus” is more than enough to fill and fulfill “everything in every way” for me.

The temptation I fight in my prayers is to “maintain my control” over the answer.  But God’s desire for me – for us – is found in “the fullness of [Jesus] who fills everything in every way.”

When you pray include “surrender”.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Pastor Denny