I Bow My Knees to the Father

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
(Ephesians 3:14-19)

As I was studying this Scripture, I realized there was a progression of faith represented that culminates with "being filled with all the fullness of God."

It begins with prayer, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father..." I can testify that my faith-walk soared to new heights when I began to daily kneel in prayer. Literally kneel. There is something about kneeling that directly reflects our own recognition of God's authority in our life. It seems that the words of our prayers may be the same, but the spirit behind the words changes.

"I bow my knees before the Father...so that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man..."

Why?

"...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;"

Our faith is meant to grow, to develop. God intends for our faith to become mighty by His power - so that Christ might dwell richly in us. When Christ dwells richly in our hearts through faith, we are ROOTED - we are GROUNDED in love.

This is a vital principle in our journey. When we are rooted in LOVE, we are strong. What is, no - WHO is - love? God. When we are rooted in Him, we are strong like the giant oak living by the stream. When the harsh winds blow, that tree ain't going nowhere!! It just bends and sways with the stormy dance. It is not affected by the drought because its roots tap into a constant, steady flow of life-giving water. It is strong and sure. And it offers shade to others who swelter in the noonday sun.

And what is the result of Christ dwelling RICHLY in us?

We know Him.
Yes, we KNOW Him!

We know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge - we comprehend its width and length and depth and height...

How can we KNOW something that surpasses knowledge? Because we know it in our hearts where Christ dwells richly, not with head knowledge. We know it personally, not just because someone told us it was so.

Know. Ginoske (ghin-oce-koe). This means "to recognize and understand the truth by personal experience." This is a whole different ballgame than to understand intellectually. This "knowing" comes by faith and faith by the Word of God.

The knowledge of His love becomes part of who we are. It resonates like a steady drumbeat into the surrounding darkness. This knowledge changes, renews and transforms us - fills us with all the fullness of God. This personal knowledge of His love draws others to Him.

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father...that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in Your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love...may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Line upon line. Precept upon precept. That's how we build a house on a sure foundation.

Father, Thank You for teaching us. We want to know You, Lord...really KNOW You, not just about You. We bow before You and ask that You grant us to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man. Lord, we want to be filled with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Hear our cry, Father. Draw us to You.