The Priority Of Spiritual Vision

The Priority of Spiritual Vision

. . . asking God, the glorious Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight. Ephesians 1:17

WHEN PAUL BEGAN TO DESCRIBE HIS PRAYERS for the Ephesian church, the first words from his hand were a request that they receive divine wisdom and insight—the necessary foundation for flourishing lives. God certainly welcomes requests for provision, protection, and assistance in certain situations, but the real substance of our lives comes through knowing him. This is our priority; everything else is secondary. If we encounter his goodness—if we look into the depths of his wisdom, power, and love—we are anchored in the realest reality there is. Everything else flows from this source.

Paul is praying for his readers not only to know God but to have their hearts and minds aligned with him. If God answers this prayer—and why wouldn’t he fulfill something so centered in his will?—he is raising up a people who see into his heart and understand his purposes. In other words, this insightful prayer from Paul will multiply insightful prayers among other believers. It puts first things first by requesting that God’s will be done and his Kingdom come on earth in the hearts and minds of human beings as it is in heaven. Those who have spiritual wisdom and insight—who have Kingdom-saturated vision—rarely need to guess God’s purposes when they speak, minister, and pray. They sense what God is doing and align with it.

How might God respond if you prayed this request for yourself and the people around you day after day, month after month, year after year? What fruit would one day be harvested from these seeds? The prayer for wisdom and revelation may not feel very exciting—for some, it’s like asking for what you need rather than what you want for Christmas—but it sets the stage for all other blessings. People with spiritual insight have the maturity to handle whatever other gifts God wants to give. They understand Kingdom priorities. They can be trusted with his extravagance. And they use their vision to pray confidently and expectantly into the lives of others.

You can’t get second things by putting them first. You can get second things only by putting first things first.