The Hope of Your Calling (First Love Fire Part 2)
In Part 1 of our journey through Ephesians, we looked at the joy of our salvation and how every spiritual blessing is given to us through Christ. Now in Part 2, we move deeper into Paul’s letter—and into Paul’s prayer life itself. If you've ever wondered how to pray, what to pray for, or whether prayer matters, this part of Ephesians is for you.
The Root of Paul’s Passion
Paul’s love for the gospel didn’t come from thin air. It was fueled by a deep, consistent life of communion with God. He wasn’t just writing theology—he was living it in his secret place with the Lord. And now, in Ephesians 1:15–23, we get a front-row seat to his prayer life. Here’s what we find.
Paul prays that the Ephesian believers would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation—not so they’d have more head knowledge, but so they would know God. He’s asking that their eyes would be opened, their hearts enlightened, and that they would grasp the full weight of the hope they’ve been called to.
How’s Your Hope?
This passage forces a real question: How is your hope doing?
If you’re dragging through the week, living under a cloud of discouragement, it may be a sign that something deeper is off. Paul connects hope with two key things: our prayer life and our sense of calling.
Romans 15:13 makes it clear—abounding in hope is the result of encountering the God of hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. You don’t get full of hope by willpower. You get it by drawing close to Him.
So if you’re low on hope, it might be time to ask: Am I spending time with the God of hope?
A Simple Way to Start a Prayer Life
You don’t need a masterclass to begin a relationship with God. Start by doing two things:
Pick a daily time to meet with God. Put it in your calendar. Make it sacred.
Talk to Him. That’s what prayer is. Worship, give thanks, bring your needs, ask questions, sit in silence, read His Word, and then respond.
Your time with God is a feast waiting to be had. Show up hungry.
The Hope of Your Calling
Paul prays specifically that the church would know the hope of their calling—because many of us lose heart when we lose track of our purpose.
According to 2 Timothy 1, every believer shares in a holy calling. This isn't about a job or career (though that matters too). This is about who you are and why you're here. Paul breaks down three essential pieces of our holy calling:
To become like Jesus. Romans 8 says we’re predestined to be conformed to His image. Our highest calling is to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus—through love, patience, peace, and all the fruit of the Spirit.
To be unashamed of the gospel. Paul didn’t just love the gospel; he was willing to suffer for it. In a world increasingly allergic to bold conviction, this is still our call: to lovingly, clearly, and boldly stand for the truth of Jesus and His resurrection.
To participate fully in the church. Ephesians 4 shows that part of our calling is to bring our gifts into the body. Jesus is the head. We’re the body. Everything He wants to do in the world gets expressed through us—His church.
If the church is the body of Christ, and all things are ultimately placed under His feet, then we need to get in alignment. That means knowing our gifts, walking in unity, and being committed to one another.
Living in Fullness
This generation doesn’t need a flashy church—it needs a full one. A church that knows its identity, walks in power, and lives like Jesus really did rise from the grave. That starts with rediscovering the hope of our calling.
Ask God:
“What is my primary calling in this season?”
“What are the gifts You’ve put in me?”
“Where do You want me to bring those gifts into the body?”
The time is now. The need is real. And the church will only step into its fullness when we do.