God entered into our world not with the crushing impact of unbearable glory, but in the way of weakness, vulnerability, and need. The world does not understand vulnerability. Neediness is rejected as incompetence, and compassion is dismissed as unprofitable. But in this weakness and poverty the shipwrecked at the stable would come to know the love of God.”
~ Brennan Manning’s A Glimpse of Jesus: The Stranger to Self-Hatred, p. 138.

PRAYER (adapted from Ephesians 3:14-21)

I turn my attention to you, my Father. Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by you. I ask that you will strengthen me in my inner self from the riches of your glory through the Spirit. I ask that Christ will live in my heart through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that I will have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that I will know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that I will be filled by your Spirit and that your church will be filled entirely with your fullness. Glory to you O’ God, for you are able to do far beyond all that I could ask or imagine by your power at work within your church; glory to you in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.