I turned one of my favorite prayers, Ephesians 1:15-19, into a powerful prayer every mom can pray over herself — and others!
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Here is the text of the Scripture passage we’re going to be looking at:
Ephesians 1:15-19 The Message (MSG)
15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
The Prayers of Apostle Paul
I have long been an admirer and student of Paul’s prayers. When I want to pray for someone but don’t know where to start, I turn to his letters and use his words to the early churches as my guide.
Examples of such prayers are Ephesians 3:16-19, Philippians 1:9-11, and Colossians 1:9-12.
As I said, I’ve been doing this for years. I usually use the New Living Translation, or maybe another translation if that’s what I happen to have on hand.
But until recently, I had not read his prayers from the Message Bible.
(Note: If you’re new to the Bible translation game, the Message Bible is not actually a translation; it’s a paraphrase. It is one man’s (Eugene Peterson) rewording of Biblical text, albeit with careful consideration and thorough study. So I would never condone using the Message as your sole source of Bible study.
But its simple language, modern vocabulary, and everyday phrasing can offer clarity to confusing passages or a new perspective that can deepen our understanding of God’s Word.)
When I ran across Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-19 as written in the Message Bible, I was immediately drawn to its language. It enriched the version I had read many times in the past and gave new life to the words I had often repeated.
This prayer can be prayed for anyone and everyone – that’s the beauty of Paul’s prayers – but for the purposes of this blog I want to share it with you as a prayer for moms everywhere. Enjoy!
Prayers for Moms Using Ephesians 1:15-19
Intelligent and discerning, knowing Him personally
I pray that God will supply you with the intelligence and discernment you need to see Him in your mothering and in every area of your life. I pray that He will use your experiences – your tests and trials, your joys and treasured moments – to draw you closer to Him. That you will be able to recognize Him and experience Him in motherhood. And that He will stir up fresh desire in your heart to seek Him first even in the midst of the daily demands of caring for your family.
Your eyes focused and clear to see exactly what it is He is calling you to do
I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you maintain your vision as a mother. When you begin to lose sight of the Kingdom purpose in your work, I pray that He will send gentle reminders across your path. I pray that during times of weariness, doubt, or confusion that He will open your eyes to see and your heart to hear the Spirit’s leading.
Grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for you
Jesus came to give us abundant life. I pray for you, mom, that you will be able to perceive and recognize the beauty of your role and the wonders of your season. Motherhood is a blessing from God, and I pray that when you get bogged down in the storms of life that He will open your eyes to the riches He has given to you. I pray for God to help you recognize the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for you.
Utter extravagance of His work in you
You are His masterpiece, made new in Jesus Christ to do great things that He planned long ago for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). I pray for new revelations of this in your heart, and a deeper understanding of its weight. God is doing powerful, life-changing things in you and through you. I pray that you would be constantly touched and affected by the utter extravagance of His work in you. That you would know, deeply and truly, that you are loved, that you are valued, and that you are important.
Endless energy, boundless strength
(This is my favorite part for moms!) I pray that God will infuse you with endless energy and boundless strength to carry out His plans for you. I thank God that no matter what is going on around us or the work that we have to do, He is faithful and compassionate to supply us with supernatural strength and energy. I pray that you would be humble enough to rely on His strength when yours is not enough.
I wrote these as a prayer from one mom to another, but you can certainly pray them over yourself! Post them where you can see them and review them daily, and take note of the difference it makes in your life! (Find a PDF version here.)
After you’ve prayed these prayers over yourself and the special moms in your life, share them with others so they can pray them too! There is power in praying the Word!
Recommended Reading:
- 5 Prayers to Combat Mom Fear
- 6 Dynamic Prayers for a Powerful School Year
- 13 Scriptures to Dedicate Your Day
- 31 Scriptures to Pray Over Your Children
Share your thoughts!