Scripture journaling
Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 3:14-21 is a prayer written for other people. It begins with "I bow my knees" and asks that the readers would be strengthened, that Christ would dwell in their hearts, and that they would know a love "which surpasses knowledge." Many people who journal as prayer return to this passage because it gives them words when their own feel thin. It can also show you how to pray for someone else: not only for a problem to be solved, but for strength on the inside and for love to take root.
The passage moves from kneeling, to asking, to praise. You can follow that same shape on the page. Slow down with one phrase at a time, notice what it stirs in you, and let your writing turn into a prayer of your own. You do not need polished words. An honest sentence or two is enough.
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Reflection prompts
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Verse 14 opens with "I bow my knees." Think about the posture you usually bring to prayer, in your body and in your heart. Describe it honestly, then write about what it might look like to come to prayer with that kind of humility today.
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Verse 15 speaks of the Father "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named." Family can bring comfort, ache or both. Write about the people you think of as your family, by blood or by choice, and offer a short prayer for one of them by name.
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Verse 16 asks that you "may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man." Where do you feel worn down on the inside right now? Write a prayer asking for strength in that specific place, and be as plain as you need to be.
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Verse 17 uses the picture of being "rooted and grounded in love." Think of a tree holding steady through wind and dry seasons. What has kept you steady when life felt uncertain? Write about where your roots have found ground.
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Verse 18 names "the width and length and height and depth" of what we are invited to comprehend. Choose one of those four words and write about how it helps you picture Christ's love. What does that direction look like in your life this week?
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Verse 19 speaks of a love "which surpasses knowledge." Write about a time when you understood love more through experience than through explanation. What did you learn that you could not have learned from words alone?
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Verse 20 praises the one "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." Write down what you are asking for in prayer right now. Then write about how it feels to hold those requests with open hands, without knowing exactly how they will be answered.
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Verse 21 closes with glory "to all generations forever and ever." Think about the generations before you and after you. Write a short prayer of praise of your own, and consider who you might pray this passage for, the way it was first prayed for others.