Rooted and grounded

This week we focussed on a wonderfully rich passage from the Letter to the Ephesians. It is important to me because when I was in my last church as Vicar we reflected on this passage, and out of it came our vision statement. As a church we were Becoming rooted in God, growing together in faith, and reaching out with love. Our symbol was a tree, and we had a beautiful banner of a tree with these words on it.

I chose the same passage for my welcome service when I became a Chaplain here. It’s a passage which can yield up different treasures every time we read it. So I have a suggestion…

Give yourself a little time. Stop. Breathe. Open yourself to God.

Read this passage slowly. Then read it again.

Notice one word or phrase that particularly connects with you today.

Stay with that word or phrase, and mull over it. Allow it to lead you into prayer…

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3.14 – 19

If you have time, you might also like to try this. The whole passage is a prayer. Imagine someone praying this prayer for you. It may be someone who has had a real care for your spiritual life. Read the passage once more and hear that prayer for you.

And then, you might like to think of one or more people who you would like to pray this prayer for. Bring them to mind. Hold them before God. And read the passage one more time, as a prayer for them.