Throughout my life, many people with a passion for God have influenced me--my parents and grandparents especially. However, my first youth pastor also left an indelible mark on my life. My memory of him consists of a face always radiating joy and a life filled with a fiery, intense devotion for the Lord. Truly, his kind, jubilant spirit provoked a jealousy in me. I wanted what he had. His fervor created in me a desire to know and experience God in the same way. Thus, it was his testimony of a simple prayer that he prayed one night that inspired a simple prayer of my own--a prayer that I have prayed over and over and believe has made all the difference in my life.
When asked why he appeared so happy all the time, he replied that he prayed a life-changing prayer one night. He described a horrific car accident and a terrifying night of being pinned in his car for several hours. Knowing that his injuries were severe and life-threatening, he prayed for God to allow him to live and, if God chose to, he promised to serve Him with his whole heart and never take one day of life for granted. This prayer forever altered him, and it was undeniably evident to all who crossed his path. As a young girl, I desired to experience God in the same way; his testimony had a profound impact on me. Moreover, from him, I learned a valuable lesson that has stayed with me all these years: Live life with a focus on eternity.
So, at age ten, I began to pray a simple prayer of my own: “Lord, give me a passion and a love for You and Your Word; reveal Yourself to me.” Throughout my life, I have prayed that prayer countless times, and God has never failed to inspire my faith as well as revive my love for Him and His Word. Over and over, Messiah finds new and amazing ways to reveal Himself to me. He consistently enlightens my spiritual eyes and renews my passion to know and experience Him. Most especially, in times when I experience doubt and in times when my spirit is dry and parched, I revert back to that simple prayer of my youth and God does immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine.
Paul’s beautiful prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 is much more eloquent than my simple prayer. On behalf of the Gentiles, He prays to God,
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be
strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Again and again, when I ask, God graciously blesses me with every spiritual blessing. Out of His glorious riches, He strengthens me with power to not only grasp the depth of Christ’s love but to know the love that surpasses knowledge, so I may be filled to the measure with all the fullness of God. Undoubtedly, I can say that I love God and His Word now more than ever. All I have to do is ask.
Meet the Author!
Nolene Niles, a member of Council Road for over thirty years, is a 7th grade English teacher at Yukon Middle School. She has been married to Troy for thirty-five years this May and has two boys, Landon and Tate, and will gain a new daughter, Kaitlin, in September. In her free time (summers), she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and most especially writing and creating Biblical curriculum for her class at school.