Ephesians 1:18

And (I pray) that the eyes of your heart (the very center of your core being) may be enlightened (flooded with light by the Holy Spirit), so that you will know and cherish the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God people).

Paul’s prayer is for the believer to gain knowledge in the inner man from the Holy Spirit. We can pray this prayer for increased wisdom from Jesus. And with personal knowledge from Jesus, hope will grow and increase in the promises of the word of God. As we realize our call, we will learn our inheritance as saints.  

Ephesians 1:9-10

He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, with regard to the fulfillment of the times (that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages) to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

We are coming to an end of an age, and God will bring all things together in Christ. God hasn’t kept His people in the dark about His return to the earth.   Jesus will return for His church and chosen people who believe in Him. The believer should be keeping themselves ready for His return with a faithful focus on God and His word.

Ephesians 3-4

Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly realms in Christ, just as (in His love) He chose us in Christ (actually selected us for Himself as His own) before the foundation of this world, so that we would be holy and blameless in His sight. In love.

God wanted us in His family from the beginning, and He chose us! He loved us even before we existed and will keep His family protected. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly realms in Christ. God is more than enough for love, peace, protection, and finances. As we draw closer to God, our soul prospers, and we prosper in all things. 

Proverbs 1:28-

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me eagerly but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord (that is obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect), they would not accept my counsel, and they spurned my rebuke.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Pastor Monte Knudsen. Sin hardens the heart, making it hard to see and hear the word of God. When a sudden calamity happens, God is blamed even when the sinner disconnects from God. The best way to avoid shaking the foundation is to build a life in continuous connection with God. 

Proverbs 3:21-23

My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life to your soul (your inner self) and a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self) then you will walk on your way (of life) securely and your foot will not stumble. 

God’s word is the security blanket against sudden changes. We may not know the future even when we make plans for it, but God does. When we are guided by our spirit in direct connection with God, we eliminate the chances of going in the wrong direction. The wisdom of God is clearing the path and lights the way.   

Ephesians 4:1

So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility (forsaking self-righteousness), and gentleness (maintaining self-control) with patience, bearing with one another in (unselfish) love.

All growth in love contains faith and hope for personal change. When we reach deeper with Jesus and follow His word, we release the influence of the flesh and increase the power of the spirit. We leave our faults behind and seek perfection through Jesus Christ. The spirit grows, and our actions reflect the love of Jesus in our hearts.

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to (carry out His purpose and) do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think (infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams) according to His power that is at work within us.

The devil will send trials and tribulations against us to try and diminish our hope. If we can be trained to have low expectations in life, we will search for inferior results. However, our God doesn’t think about impossible but possible. God is more than enough, God, and in ways, we may have not even dreamed. Keep the faith and hope alive in God and expect more than enough.

Ephesians 3:19

And to know (practically, through personal experience) the love of Christ which far surpasses (mere) knowledge (without experience), that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely flooded with God Himself).

The experience of God moving on our behalf in love is life-changing. Nothing exists besides God and His expression of love that can impact the heart and completely turn it around. Love is the cornerstone of everything God does and has done for us to bring us into the kingdom. Call on God in faith and prayer to experience the fullness of God and His love.

Ephesians 3:16

May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, (indwelling your innermost being and personality), so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And may you be rooted and grounded in love.

As we pray to be strengthened in our spirit, our faith pulls on the power of God. God responds to our faith. As we root ourselves in love and pull on the living water of God, our faith will grow. We will grow in our Christian walk and fulfill our purpose here on this earth. Our strength and wisdom come from our spirit energized by the living God.

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first pure (morally and spiritually undefiled), then peace-loving (courteous, considerate) gentle reasonable (and willing to listen), full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without (self-righteousness) hypocrisy (and self-serving guile). 

God knows all and sees all and takes the time to be our wisdom and guide. We can’t see the future or predict what will happen, but God knows. For this reason, it is essential to walk by faith and have the courage to act upon the word of God. God will lead when we humble ourselves to follow, lifting a lot of the stress and burden of life.