It's a long one, BUT I think it is one of the best revelations God has ever given me!!!

Paul showed us what God wants for every believer in Eph 1, Eph 3, Phil 1, and Col 1, also called Paul's Prayers. Eph 3:16 - 19 (AMP),

"May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Verse 16 stands out first, “strengthened…in the inner man”.
Strengthen is defined by Webster’s, “to be make strong (ability to do, endure, power, toughness, solidity, power to resist attack).”
The only way to stay strong and take your place in Christ is to stay hooked up to the power source. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is the bridge that reconnects us with the Father, so we can live life. When we hook up the The Vine we form the "ultimate union" as described by Kenyon in his book, In Christ Realities.

God gave me this analogy:
We all need water. Water makes up over 80% of our body. What is the first thing the hospital does when a person in need of attention enters the hospital? They HOOK them Up to an IV bag. An IV bag hydrates sick people because we need water for many reasons.

One is to flush impurities out of our body. I like what Kenyon said, “…to be rooted and grounded in love is to remove all self.” Yes, Lord remove every impurity from this world, and remove every impurity that is not of YOU! Anything that is not of God, anything that is not pure, true, noble, good, lovely, and praiseworthy, is toxic to the body. What is toxic to your life? For me it is myself. You know the selfish mentality, "What about me? What about my needs? What about what I deserve?" It's toxic, but when I get "hooked up" the Living Water flushes out those impure thoughts and leaves me hydrated.

Water also makes up a large part of the blood which transports “life”, nourishment, and oxygen to every cell in our bodies. The blood of Jesus provides life, protection, and promises to us. If you have never studied the blood covenant, I suggest Joyce Meyer's book, "The Word, The Name, The Blood."

The third function of water is to regulate body temperature. I love this one! Jesus did not like "religious people". Rev 3:16 God says, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Staying hooked up to the Life allows God to keep me on fire for Him!!!

The fourth function of water is to cushion our joints, and prevent shock to them. In this world we will face circumstances that "shock", jolt, bounce, and knock us down. When we are connected to the Vine, the storm seasons in life cannot shake us. In fact they get shorter as God's peace covers the believer like a warm blanket. God brings you right through that Storm so you can dance in the rain.

Finally, water is extremely critical in lymph system which supplies antibodies for our defense against disease. Jesus left us His name, and in His name we have all authority against disease, worry, concern, etc. Complete protection!

The more rooted and grounded we become in God, who is Love, the larger the connection, our stem, becomes to the Life Source. I love the way the Amplified says, “securely “ in verse 17. However, I think sometimes our connection can get leaks in them.

Back to my analogy: I can picture a sick, dehydrated person whose line to their IV bag has holes. The liquid becomes diverted, and God cannot get them any peace, joy, grace, or love. It is not God who leaves or forgets us; it is us has the problem with our line. I do not want any links in my relationship with God; I want all that God has to give me! I do not want doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, worry, busyness, selfishness, strife, or gossip poking tiny holes in my Life-line. Who is poking the holes? Not your husband, not your co-workers, not your children, and certainly not God. We need to look in the mirror sweet sisters, we are the ones poking the holes as we allow doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, worry, etc. into our lives. It is us we swings the door of opportunity wide open to the enemy whose only purpose is to steal your joy, kill your enthusiasm, and destroy your purpose.

John 4:14, “But those who drink the water I give (the Living Water) will never be thirsty (will never go look for another life source) again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (Emphasis mine)

Ephesians 3 goes onto say Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge will allow us to be “filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God”
“Filled”- Greek Strong's Number: 4137
Transliteration: pleroo
definition: to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

Do you enjoy being full? I do! This is The Truth, The Reality, The Way, The Life, Jesus came to give abundantly. I know by experience it is true; so full of God’s love, God’s grace, God’s wisdom, God’s strength, God’s Divine Presence, God’s Living Water that nothing is left wanting. Nothing!!! No fight with my husband, no problem at church, nothing can steal the joy and peace that guard's my mind in Christ Jesus.

It is us; it is me, who turns away from the life source. Sometimes we literally get up and unhook our IV from the Zoë bag and go plug ourselves into the world’s false promises.

Romans 1:25 (NLT) says, “They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen!”

Kenyon is right. The love at the bar isn’t real, the peace from a “buzz” doesn’t last, and the joy from new things is short-lived. Satan tries to counterfeit and pervert the promises of God, because He has never had an original idea. His promises, the life he offers, leaves people dehydrated, malnourished, and dead.

We know we are hooked up to the wrong source when we can’t get full. We can’t do that “thing” enough. I can’t eat enough. I can’t shop enough. I can’t get enough love. I can’t get enough affirmation. When we can’t get full, when we are desperate for anything, we need to run for God, THE FILLER.

I LOVE THE WORD BECAUSE IT TRULY SATISFIES and FILLS!!!

Psalm 90:14 (NLT)
“Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”
Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV)
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Satisfy - Hebrew Strong's Number: 7646
Transliteration: saba`
definition: to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited, to be satiated the filling and overfilling of appetites and desires.

I am staying hooked up to the LIFE because His love is “better than life.” He is my Interceder, Knight in shining armor, Umpire, Advocate, Encourager, Lord, Friend, Lover of my soul. Knowing that love and knowing it is flowing through me satisfies my every appetite, need, and desire.
How is your connection?
What do you do personally to keep "the ultimate union" strong?
(If you'd like a copy of Paul's Prayers, leave me a comment with your email address. )