May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it].
[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all they fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the action [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams] -
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
Ephesians 3:17-21 AMP
The anxiety started to crept in last night, in the guise of frustration about the plans for today. You know, when a day is approaching and you know it is going to be a 'big' day, and you just don't want to do it.
This day, with three appointments for our daughter, starting with a visit to the Limbs Centre, for the fitting of a new AFO. It is a blessing to be able to get a new AFO, but it normally requires multiple subsequent visits for adjustments until it fits correctly, causing distress and discomfort in the mean time.
Then on to the orthopedic surgeon for a review of the leg length issues, really don't want to go to this appointment! Am believing that God will intervene here and surgery will not be required.
Then to see the physio to determine whether Victoria's leg needs to be cast again for a couple of weeks to increase the calf stretch. And hopefully get some strategies for reducing the pain that comes after intense use of the left leg and arm.
These appointments are all reminders of the challenges our daughter lives with every day. But there it is - the blessing - she lives - here with us on earth. We know parents who can't say that about their children.
So this morning, I called out to God, 'I need your help today. I need to support my daughter in these appointments, and put my own feeling aside. Please help me.'
And what did my gracious God do? He reminded me of these scriptures in Ephesians 3. The scriptures a friend gave to me last year when we got the news the tumour had started to grow again. The scriptures I read at the Celebration in the park earlier this year. The scriptures that remind us what is available to us when we put Jesus Christ at the centre of everything. Everything.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT
Here are just some of the things Jesus so graciously makes available to us every day:
- Inner strength through His Spirit
- Power to understand more of God's love for us
- Completeness with all the fullness of life
I witnessed is fullness of life in Victoria on Tuesday this week at a swimming carnival, where she swam by herself, in her own special way, the 50m breaststroke. She won (how could she not? as she was the only one in the race). But she did more than win that race. She won, within herself, another victory on the path to being all that God has called her to be. She didn't shrink back and let the disability define her. She lived that day with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:39 AMP
Side note: can't say the same for myself on Tuesday, I was a bit of an emotional wreck! Need to take lessons from my daughter.
So today, we all have a choice, whatever our day holds, to indeed shrink back, hide in fear, or take hold of what Christ has done for us, and given us, and face what is before us. To step out in faith and make the declaration that,
God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imaging or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message
So let's do this day God's way, and give Him the glory.
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