On a crisp Sunday morning, I suddenly realized I didn’t want to go to church. I wanted to stay home, sit on my deck, and sip coffee instead of being around people in the close quarters of a worship service. I had no desire to invest in small talk with people in the lobby—and I felt a rising cloud of anxiety in my chest.
Searching my heart, I asked God to reveal anything that might be hidden within me—anything that might be causing my aversion. A recent confrontation with a friend came to mind. I wasn’t ready to see her. My mind also traced the footsteps of my busy week. I was weary and in need of rest.
Unsure how to proceed, I picked up my Bible and turned to the familiar words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. As I read the first chapter, I considered how Paul poured out his love for his brothers and sisters in Christ. My heart was moved with compassion. What if, instead of grumbling about the obligation to gather with God’s family, I prayed for them?
Following Paul’s guidelines in Ephesians 1, I offered five distinct prayers that softened my heart and prepared me to worship with my fellow believers:
- I gave thanks for them (v. 16): Nothing sets a heart right more quickly than the discipline of giving thanks. Our hearts are aligned with God’s heart when we offer thanksgiving. Begin by giving thanks for the people in your church—those you are privileged to worship with each week. This will align your heart with Christ’s heart for His body.
- I prayed that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (v. 17): The more we know God, the more we can walk in the abundance of His love. When we pray for God to give others a spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Him, we are praying that the gateway to the most fulfilling and abundant life will be opened for them.
- I prayed that the eyes of their hearts would be opened, so that they would know the hope of their calling (v. 18): God has called each of His children to live a life of love. We are called to love Him first, and we are called to carry His love to a lost and broken world. When we pray for our brothers and sisters to have the eyes of their hearts opened, we are praying that they might see other people as Christ sees them and walk in the hope that comes from following Christ.
- I asked God to keep their eyes on the glory (hope) of what is to come (v. 18): When our eyes are fixed on the struggles of this life, it’s easy to lose heart. Many fellow laborers in the Lord are discouraged and downcast because they’ve stopped looking forward to the glory that is to come. When we pray for fellow believers to keep their eyes on that future glory, we pray they will remember that the hard work of this life will be worth it when they meet Christ face to face.
- I prayed they would experience the greatness of God’s power working through them (v. 19): We all need God’s power to do His will and live out the calling on our lives. He has promised His power through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Few things are more encouraging than realizing that the Spirit of God is working in and through our lives. We bless our brothers and sisters in Christ when we pray that they will experience the greatness of God’s power working through them.
As I prayed through these verses, a gentle shift took place. My feelings started to soften, and God impressed His love and compassion for His people on my heart. I was refreshed by praying His Word back to Him—and I stood up to leave my deck with a sincere desire to worship with His people!
STACEY PARDOE is the prayer ministry coordinator at Grove City, PA, Alliance Church. She writes weekly on her blog staceypardoe.com.
