[Robinson proposes that Paul wrote Ephesians from prison in Caesarea, shortly after Philemon and Colossians, in ‘later summer 58.’) What about when you feel like you should pray for someone, but you don’t really know what to pray for? Or what if you and a friend agreed you would pray for each other every day, even though you would not know the details of what the other person was doing from day to day?

Paul’s great prayer for the Ephesian church makes a great basis for praying in those circumstances (Ephesians 3:16-21). It’s pretty easy to use it: you just substitute in a person’s name, and change the pronouns as appropriate: for example, “Hear my prayer for Mary … that she may be strengthened in her inner being … ”

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Hear my prayer for (all who read today’s devotion), O Lord.

I pray that you may grant, in accordance with the riches of your glory, that they may be strengthened in their inner being with power through your Spirit.

I pray that you will dwell in their heart by faith, as they are established and grounded in your love.

I pray that they may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, the breadth and length and height and depth of your love: to know this love that surpasses knowledge.

I pray that they may be filled with all your fullness, O God.

By the power at work within us you are able to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine. To you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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