(I pray that you would know) what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Ephesians 1:19a

Did you know that, as a Christian, God’s power is towards you? That’s right, Paul prayed that the 1st century believers would know the “surpassing greatness of God’s power toward” those who believe. We have been looking at one of the most powerful things that we can do in our prayer life…praying God’s word over our lives. And in the first chapter of Ephesians, we see a tremendously powerful prayer. As those who belong to the King of Kings, we can pray for revelation, enlightenment, and power. And we can know that this is God’s will for His people because we are praying His words back to Him.

Consider Paul’s description of God’s power. This power is described as that of “surpassing greatness.” This word “surpassing,” in the original language, is important because you can see, in the word, the English equivalent “hyper.” It’s actually a compound word that describes something that goes beyond or exceeds ordinary or expected limits. When you couple that with the word “greatness,” which describes the magnitude of God’s power, we can see how powerful even the description of God’s power is as expressed by Paul in his prayer. God’s power exceeds ordinary limits or expectations and goes beyond anything we can imagine. And this power…it is “towards” those who believe…authentic, born again believers in Jesus Christ. Knowing this, how could we ever live beneath what God wants for us as His people?

Consider this parallel passage from Colossians:

…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

    Colossians 1:11-12

We are to be “strengthened with all power!” This power is the very presence of God at work within the life of a born again believer in Jesus. And for what do we use this power? For “all steadfastness and patience.” As Christians, we are to be steadfast in our walk with Christ. That means we are immovable, confident, and secure in our position in Christ. This steadfastness brings joy and thanksgiving, knowing that we have been “qualified” through faith in Jesus to be heirs to the kingdom of God. This is God’s desire for every believer. Are we living in this kind of power? Consider Paul’s declaration:

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…

      Ephesians 3:20

God is able to do “far more abundantly beyond” all that we could ever ask Him for or even imagine and it’s all in accordance to the power that works “within us.” This should be our Christian experience and if it’s not, we can pray God’s word over our lives and watch Him faithfully provide in accordance to His word. We even see this same concept in the Old Testament scripture:

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

      Isaiah 40:29-31

God is faithful to those who trust in Him. He gives strength. He gives power. And all of this by the “surpassing greatness” of His power…that which exceeds our expectations, our prayers, and even our imaginations. 

Are you praying God’s word over your life? It is one of the most powerful things we can do and we can’t go wrong because we are praying God’s word back to Him…His trusted, powerful, and transforming word. Use Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-19 to get started. What a privilege we have to pray, asking God for revelation, enlightenment, and, of course, power, knowing that He will answer those who believe (Mark 11:23-24). 

Father, thank you for your faithfulness in my life, even in the times when I have not been faithful to You. I ask that you would let me know the surpassing greatness of your power that is towards me because I belong to you. Let me live a life that exceeds the expectations of the ordinary. Thank you for loving me! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

…that He (God) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…

Ephesians 3:16