Ephesians: Tear Down These WallsShembull

The reason my kids ask me for things is that they believe I can grant them their requests. When they don’t believe I can (or will), they ask their Mum! It’s a sly tactic employed by every child to play their parents off each other. 

Sometimes, my daughter will preface her requests by saying, “Dad, I know you’re going to say 'No', but [insert entirely inappropriate request].” 

Most of the time it’s a solid “No!” But every now and then I like to surprise her by saying “Yes!” Occasionally, my kids ask me for things that I just simply cannot give them, because it’s outside of my ability to do so. 

God is able. 

This is the whole foundation of prayer. If he were un-able, we’d never pray! 

Since God is powerful, capable, and sovereign, we can come to him with our prayers. We know that God is able because he gives from his abundant, overflowing, and unlimited resources (3:16). 

Sometimes we incorrectly assume that God is a bit stingy or only has a limited supply of blessing from which he can give. These verses shatter those false beliefs! 

A. W. Tozer reminds us that, “Prayer is not an assault on the reluctance of God”. 

God is able. So able, in fact, that there’s nothing you can ask him that he can’t give. 

Think of the biggest, most audacious, impossible prayer request you have. God can do it! He can do immeasurably more than all we ask or even imagine! This is not a promise that God will do whatever you want, but it is an incentive to ask the only one who can!

And here’s the crazy part, God chooses to accomplish his purposes through us. He doesn’t need to use us. It’s by his power at work in and through his people that God achieves his purposes. God graciously chooses to do extraordinary things through ordinary people! 

These verses leave little room for prayers with low expectations. Instead, we ought to be inspired to pray big, expectant, faith-stretching prayers! 

What’s on your list of impossible prayer requests?