For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Beloved,

Have you eaten a piece of toast that was left out over night?  It still is toast, but it does not taste the same.  Its staleness deadens the richness of the flavors.  It can still offer some nourishment, but it lacks freshness and vitality.  The prayer life of many Christians is like day old toast.  It still may offer some nourishment, but it is not satisfying. Prayer with the Triune God should not be stale, but vibrant and rich. 

One of the best ways to overcome a stale prayer life is to dig into the plethora of prayers in the Bible. For example, read the prayer of the Apostle Paul above.  It is rich with deep gospel truths and precious promises God has given his people.  Paul prays for the Spirit to give wisdom and revelation to the saints so we can grasp the riches of our future inheritance.  He prays of the immeasurable greatness of God’s power demonstrated in Christ’s victory over the grave that God is fully able to fulfill His promises. 

Reading this prayer fills my heart with eternal hope built on the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul’s prayer is beautiful and soul-inspiring, and yet, it is only one of the countless examples of what we should pray in God’s Word.