Strengthened by His Spirit, Rooted in His Love

The love of Christ surpasses knowledge—wider, longer, deeper, and higher than we could ever imagine.

Insight from Bob Hoekstra, Day by Day by Grace

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)

The prayer in Ephesians 3 is a window into the abundant life God has provided in Christ. It is not a plea for something new to be given, but rather a request for believers to fully receive and experience what is already theirs in Christ. Paul asks that believers be strengthened with might through the Spirit in the inner man—not by self-effort, but by divine empowerment. The Spirit is not a distant force but the very presence of God working within us, granting strength in alignment with His inexhaustible riches.

The purpose of this strengthening is so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith—not merely as a guest, but as the ruler of our inner life, free to rearrange, restore, and transform. This prayer acknowledges that spiritual obstacles—apathy, fear, self-sufficiency—often cloud our surrender. Yet, as we yield, the Spirit grounds us deeply in God’s love, securing us in something far greater than fleeting emotions or intellectual knowledge.

To be rooted and grounded in love is to abide in the unshakable reality of Christ’s affection. The Spirit leads us beyond theory into personal experience, unveiling the limitless dimensions of this love—its width, length, depth, and height. This journey is not merely about understanding but about being filled with all the fullness of God—the very life of Christ expressing itself through us.

Personal Journal Reflection

Father, You have already given me all things in Christ, and today, I choose to fully receive them. Your Spirit is not merely present within me; He is actively at work, strengthening my inner being. I do not need to summon strength or manufacture power—I am already sustained by Your infinite grace.

Christ, You dwell in my heart, not as a visitor, but as the One who reigns. My life is not my own, and that truth is not a burden, but the greatest joy. I trust You to make my heart fully Your home, clearing away anything that hinders Your peace, love, and rest from flowing unhindered. Whatever remnants of self-reliance linger, they have no authority here. Your Spirit is at work, aligning my heart with Your will, and I rest in that reality.

Your love, Lord, is not something I need to earn, grasp, or strive for—it is the foundation beneath my feet, the air I breathe, the unshakable reality in which I live. The width of Your love stretches over all my failures, the length of it reaches beyond every tomorrow, the depth of it descends into the places I once thought beyond redemption, and the height of it lifts me into the fullness of Your presence. I do not merely comprehend these truths—I abide in them.

You have filled me with Your fullness, and that is enough. I refuse to live today as though I lack what You have already supplied. I will walk in the confidence of Your Spirit, trusting in the reality of Your presence. I do not ask You to give me what I already possess; instead, I receive it with joy, knowing that in You, I lack nothing.

Prayer

Father, thank You that Your Spirit strengthens me with might according to Your glorious riches. I rest in Your sufficiency, knowing that Christ dwells in my heart through faith, ruling in peace and love. I rejoice that I am rooted and grounded in Your limitless love, a love that surpasses knowledge yet fills me completely. Today, I walk in the fullness of what You have already provided, confident that Your life is expressing itself through me. Amen.

Intent of Photo: A vast, star-filled night sky stretching in all directions, illustrating the boundless dimensions of God’s love.