Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

After expressing his prayer for the Ephesian believers, Paul can’t hold himself back from praising God. The better we know God and understand how much He has done for us in Christ, the more praise and thanksgiving will well up from within us. The word order in Japanese hit me just now as I read this, because it starts with “According to the power that works in us.” This isn’t some pie-in-the sky thing, it is already working in us! It also isn’t simply historical, grateful that something happened 2000 years ago, or anticipatory, that someday we’ll be in heaven, but it’s right now, working in us. The more we think about that, the more it should blow our minds! That Paul would say, “more than we can ask or imagine,” is very significant. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve got a pretty active imagination! This is another reason why we should never try to dictate to God: His plans for us are always better than anything we could plan for ourselves, regardless of what they look like in the moment. Sometimes He takes us through some pretty deep stuff, but it’s always for our good. Paul himself went through times that “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.” (2 Corinthians 1:8) No one in their right mind would choose that sort of thing voluntarily, but in the very same letter he tells us, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) We can’t imagine the extent of the glory that awaits us, but God is working in and through us right now to prepare us for that glory, and we should be very grateful.

This is something I have continued to grow into over the years. My “asking and thinking” has been pretty immature at times, but God has been patient with me. I continue to ask for and imagine an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Japan, bringing repentance and faith as all the lies of the devil are smashed, but I could no more accomplish that on my own than I could take a quick trip to the Andromeda Galaxy and back. As John wrote, faith is indeed the victory over all the opposition. (1 John 5:4) I need to keep trusting God to bring about His perfect plans, keeping myself available for however He might want to use me in them, so that He will receive the glory and satisfaction that is due Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing in and around me, much of it unexpected. Thank You for being an infinitely better planner than I am! Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You as Your plans are fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!