How to Make Ephesians 3:20 Your Personal Prayer

Have you ever prayed about something so big that you wondered if you were asking God for too much?

Maybe you’re believing God for healing in your family, restoration in a broken relationship, or a breakthrough in an area of your life where nothing seems to be changing.

You know God is powerful. You believe He answers prayers. But sometimes, when you’re facing a situation that seems impossible, it’s easy to focus more on the problem than on the One who has the power to change it.

That’s where Ephesians 3:20 comes in.

The Word of God transforms lives. And I believe it’s even more transformative when you begin to personalize it and apply it to your own life.

Ephesians 3:20 is one of those verses of scripture that can really grow your faith and change the way you approach God in prayer.

One way to do that is to make it your own personal prayer or declaration.

In fact, you can make many Bible verses personal prayers. God’s Word is filled with promises and truths that we can cling to as we trust Him for the things we’re believing for.

When we pray these promises, we’re simply putting voice to the Scriptures. And we know the tongue can have life-giving power when used to speak words of life. (see Proverbs 18:21)

If you’ve never considered praying Ephesians 3:20 over your life, I want to show you how simple it can be. But first, let’s examine a few versions of this powerful verse.

Three Versions of Ephesians 3:20

Before getting into how to make Ephesians 3:20 your personal prayer, I think it’s important to read it in different Bible versions. Sometimes reading the same scripture in another translation helps us gain a deeper understanding of what’s being said.

Let’s start with the NIV (New International Version):

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

The KJV (King James Version):

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

And The Message (Ephesians 3:20–21):

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”

I particularly like The Message version because it paraphrases Scripture in everyday language that makes it easier to understand.

When I read these versions of Ephesians 3:20, there are two words that really stand out to me.

Immeasurably.

Abundantly.

Think about those words for a moment.

We’re talking about a God who is able to do far beyond anything we could ask for or even imagine.

But there’s something else in this verse that I don’t want you to miss.

All of what God is able to do is based on one thing: Power. His power.

Not our own strength.
Not our ability to figure things out on our own.
And, not even our ability to pray perfectly.

It’s according to His power that is at work within us.

And since God is all-powerful, that should give us tremendous confidence when we come before Him to pray. No situation is beyond His ability.

Understanding Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians

There’s something important about Ephesians 3:20 that I want to point out.

This verse is actually part of a larger passage in which the apostle Paul is praying for believers.

In Ephesians 3:14–21, Paul prays that believers would be strengthened through God’s Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they would be rooted and grounded in love. He also prays that they would come to understand just how great Christ’s love is for them.

Then, as Paul closes, giving glory to God, he acknowledges His ability to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

I love that!

When you look at the entire passage, you can see that this isn’t just about asking God to do big things in our lives. It’s also about allowing His power to work within us, strengthening our faith and helping us grow in our relationship with Him.

And that’s something I think we should keep in mind when praying Ephesians 3:20.

While we can certainly bring our needs and desires before God, we can also ask Him to work in our hearts, change our attitudes, strengthen us spiritually, and help us experience more of His love.

That’s part of the beauty of this Ephesians prayer.

It reminds us that God’s power isn’t limited to changing our circumstances. He can also change us.

Why Make Ephesians 3:20 Your Personal Prayer?

Sometimes we can get so caught up in what we’re going through that we forget just how powerful God is.

I know it’s easy to focus on what we see happening around us, especially when things don’t seem to be changing.

Maybe you’ve been praying about the same situation for months or even years. You’ve asked God to intervene, but from what you can see, nothing is happening.

It’s during times like these that we need to remind ourselves of what God’s Word says. That’s one reason I love praying Scripture.

When you make Ephesians 3:20 your personal prayer, you’re doing more than repeating a Bible verse. You’re reminding yourself of who God is and what He’s capable of doing.

You’re choosing to focus on His power instead of allowing your circumstances to determine what you believe is possible. And the more you meditate on His Word and speak it in prayer, the more you give your faith an opportunity to grow.

Another thing I love about praying Ephesians is that Paul’s words remind us to look beyond our immediate needs.

Yes, we can pray for God to change a situation. But we can also pray for Him to strengthen us, help us walk in love, and give us the wisdom we need as we go through difficult circumstances.

How to Make Ephesians 3:20 Your Personal Prayer

While prayer is simply talking to God, there are different ways we can communicate with Him. And making a Bible verse personal doesn’t have to be complicated.

If you’re new to prayer or sometimes struggle with knowing what to say, I’ve also put together a Beginner’s Prayer Guide with practical tips to help you become more comfortable talking to God.

Here are four simple steps you can follow when praying Ephesians 3:20 over your life.

1. Begin With Thanksgiving and Praise

Before you start making requests, take some time to thank God for who He is. Psalm 100:4 tells us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

Thank Him for His goodness, His faithfulness, and the ways He’s already worked in your life. Even if you’re facing something difficult right now, there’s always something you can thank God for.

And when we begin our prayers with thanksgiving, it helps us shift our attention away from our problems and onto the One we’re praying to.

2. Acknowledge God’s Power at Work Within You

This is where Ephesians 3:20 becomes especially meaningful.

The verse reminds us that God is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us.

Notice that it doesn’t say according to our power. It says His power.

Through His Holy Spirit, God is at work within us. So when you pray, acknowledge that you’re not depending on your own strength or ability to change a situation. You’re trusting in God’s power.

3. Make Your Requests Known to God

Now it’s time to tell God what’s on your heart.

Maybe you need healing in your body.
Maybe you’re believing for restoration in a relationship.
Or perhaps you’re facing a situation where you simply don’t know what to do next.

Whatever it is, bring it before Him.

You don’t have to pray longer prayers or use fancy words when you pray. ust talk to our Heavenly Father, reminding yourself of what Ephesians 3:20 says about His ability to do far more than you could ask or imagine.

4. Pray in Faith and Trust God With the Outcome

After you’ve made your requests, continue trusting God.

I know that’s sometimes easier said than done, especially when you’ve been waiting a long time for an answer to certain prayers.

But praying in faith doesn’t mean we always know how God is going to answer. It does, however, mean that we trust Him even when we don’t.

Remember, God’s ability isn’t limited by what we can see or understand.

So continue believing in His goodness, trusting His wisdom, and allowing His Word to strengthen your faith as you wait on Him.

What Does It Look Like to Pray According to Ephesians 3:20?

Let’s look at an example of how you can make this scripture personal.

Suppose you’re believing God for healing in a relationship with your adult child. Maybe you haven’t spoken to your son or daughter in months. Perhaps it’s even been years.

There may have been disagreements, hurt feelings, or circumstances that caused the relationship to deteriorate. If much time has passed, you may not even know how to begin repairing the relationship.

You love your child, and deep down, you want nothing more than to see that relationship restored. But if you’re being honest, you may have started wondering if things will ever change.

This is exactly the kind of situation you can bring before God while remembering the truth of Ephesians 3:20.

You may not know how reconciliation will happen.
You may not even know where to begin.
But you can trust that God is able to do far beyond what you can ask or imagine.

So you could come before the Lord, thanking Him for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love for family.

Then pray something like this:

An Ephesians 3:20 Prayer for Restoring a Relationship

“Father, I thank You that You hear my prayers and that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective according to Your Word.

Right now, I lift up my son/daughter to You.

Lord, You know everything that has happened between us. You know the hurt, the disagreements, and the distance that has come into our relationship.

You also know that it’s the enemy’s desire to sift us as wheat, keeping us at odds.

But God, I know that You are all-powerful. Your Word says in Ephesians 3:20 that You are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us.

So today, I’m asking You to bring healing and restoration to my relationship with (name).

Lord, give me the strength I need to put aside my differences with my child and walk in love toward him/her like never before.

Show me where I need to extend grace, offer forgiveness, or even ask for forgiveness myself. Help me to see my child through Your eyes and respond with the same love and patience that You have shown me when You sent Jesus to die on the cross.

And Father, I ask that You work in my child’s heart as well. Give us both Your supernatural ability to love each other beyond what we’ve experienced before.

Where there’s been hurt, bring healing.
Where there’s been misunderstanding, bring understanding.
And where there’s been distance, I ask that You make a way for reconciliation.

Thank You for hearing my prayer and for being able to do far beyond anything I could ask or imagine.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Your Prayers Don’t Have to Be Perfect

Making Ephesians 3:20 your personal prayer doesn’t need to be complicated, fancy, or filled with lots of words. It just needs to come from a heart of faith.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in trying to say the right things that we forget prayer is really about communicating with our Heavenly Father.

He already knows what’s on your heart.

So whether you’re praying for healing, restoration in a relationship, direction for your life, or something else entirely, remember what Ephesians 3:20 tells us.

God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

So don’t allow the size of your situation to cause you to forget the greatness of your God.

Keep praying. Keep trusting. And keep allowing His Word to strengthen your faith.

Another Powerful Promise to Pray Over Your Life

Ephesians 3:20 isn’t the only scripture you can turn into a personal prayer.

There are so many promises and truths in God’s Word that can encourage us, strengthen our faith, and remind us of His faithfulness.

Another scripture I love for this is Jeremiah 29:11.

While Ephesians 3:20 reminds us of God’s incredible power, Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of His faithfulness and His plans for His people, even during difficult seasons.

And although this verse was originally spoken to God’s people during their exile, there’s still so much we can learn from it about trusting God’s character and His purposes.

If you’re looking for another scripture to incorporate into your prayer life, I encourage you to spend some time with Jeremiah 29:11 as well.

Read How to Make Jeremiah 29:11 Your Personal Prayer