I would like to share Paul’s prayer in the book of Ephesians with you. Rob Stegmann in our Pauline Writings lecture today read it as we committed our time to the Lord. It goes like this;

Ephesians 1: 15 – 19;

"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…”

The phrase that resonates with me the most is that of; "that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened." Isn’t that what we long for? That our hearts be enlightened for the hope that is Christ in us, for a fuller view of Christ and an intimate relationship with him, and to see past the difficulties of today to the joy of an eternal life of righteousness. Paul knows that Jesus will do this for those of us who believe hence the reason why he prays for it.