Praying for Renewal
by Josh Dickens
I think it is safe to say many were eager to begin a new year. 2020 had so many difficulties, storms, and challenges that many just tried to hold on. The word I frequently used was disappointment. It seemed to mark so many faces and lives I came in contact with throughout the year. Plans smashed, vacations canceled, family sheltered, and loss, so much loss, disappointment become the general theme of the year. In normal times it can be easy to lose heart, little lone in times of crisis. The heart is a fragile instrument that we are told to guard at all times, yet what stings a heart more than disappointment? Proverbs tells us that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”. Friends, I’m here to tell you that we are facing a crisis of sick hearts. Hearts that have had their hopes deferred. Yet a change in the calendar has only promised more mayhem, more difficultly, more chaos. What are we to do? It is time to pray a prayer of renewal. A prayer that awakens our hearts to something more. Awaken to something beyond the distractions of politics, disease, and culture.
Paul knew about heart-sickening hope deferment. Yet when he chooses to leave the door to his prayer closet open, I am blown away by his prayer life. It is so vibrant, so exciting, so passionate, but most importantly so alive. Not the kind of alive one sees and becomes exhausted by. But the kind that excites others and is contagious. The kind of alive that assures us that hoping in the future is okay because this hope has had a sneak peek. One of my favorites of these passion igniting prayers is in Ephesians 1:15-23. I love it because we see Paul’s top prayer request for the church, and we see what he knew we as Christians would need most from Jesus.
Know Jesus
The first request is that you would be filled with the knowledge of Christ through wisdom and revelation. Wisdom and revelation are a unique combination that sets us into a relationship with almighty God. It is also important to note this praying for knowledge is not some knowledge about Jesus but a real knowing relationship. Paul is longing for us to commune with Jesus. Communion with Jesus will always renew your soul.
Open Eyes
Secondly, Paul is desiring and longing for their eyes to be open to the living and active hope of the coming Kingdom. Paul is praying for these Christians to receive a sneak peek into the future reality. Where your eyes go will affect what you place your hope. Paul knows that to be renewed one must steady themselves in the truth of the coming Kingdom and the glorious community of the saints to dwell there. Spending time dwelling and praying for this future reality will help to restart and renew the weary.
Increased Power
Finally, he prays for the church to experience an increase in power. The Church will always experience this kind of power after spending time with Jesus and looking towards the Kingdom. The most exciting thing is this increased power will have a Kingdom expanding soul-saving effect on others. Christ's resurrection power in our lives cannot stay hidden. It has a self-revealing and proclaiming element that will always reveal Christ to others around us. This is our prayer for 2021, it is time to renew and revive our hearts and our churches. Seek the throne of heaven with us and let us renew our hearts to following our King.