Lately as I struggle to find the words to pray for the church in Afghanistan, watching the terror unfold and having no point of reference for their plight and suffering, I would be remiss if I didn’t utilize what Paul is teaching through his prayer for the Ephesians. Paul sincerely and powerfully cries out to God on their behalf. Not seeking for them to be blessed with gold or silver, comfort or health. Not that it is wrong to pray for these things when needed, but Paul was praying with a different purpose. He was pleading with God to provide them with strength to understand the greatness of His love. It seems simple. We all know that we serve a loving God. But do we really grasp on a daily basis the true depth of His love and the power of His Spirit within us? Are we filled with all the fullness of God?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39
The power, strength, and encouragement that comes through His love is something greater than riches or solace. His love is something that cannot be taken by thieves or destroyed by violence. So as we walk through the coming days knowing our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan are experiencing unspeakable tribulation, let us take this opportunity to plead with God on their behalf. Let’s plead for them to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, to have a great understanding of God’s love for them, and to be filled with the fullness of God. Let’s remember, as Paul did, that our God is capable of more than we can ever imagine. Let’s pray for Him to be glorified and His church to be strengthened.
VC Devotionals 