Short answer: Ephesians 3:20 praises God as the One able to do far more than we could ever ask or even imagine, and He does it "according to the power that works in us" — the same Spirit already at work in believers. It is a doxology of confidence in God's limitless ability, anchored not in our expectations but in His power.
The context: the end of a prayer
Ephesians 3:20-21 is the closing burst of praise after one of Paul's great prayers. In 3:14-19 he prays that his readers would be strengthened by the Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts, and that they would grasp the vast love of Christ and be "filled with all the fullness of God" (3:19). Those are staggering requests. Verse 20 responds: the God who can answer such a prayer can do even more than we thought to ask. The verse is worship, not a blank check for our wish list.
What it means, phrase by phrase
The World English Bible reads: "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"
- "Now to him who is able" — The focus is God's ability, not merely His willingness in a given case. Paul magnifies what God can do.
- "exceedingly abundantly above all" — A piled-up, overflowing phrase. God's capacity surpasses the maximum we can request.
- "all that we ask or think" — Beyond our prayers and even beyond our imagination. Our biggest thoughts do not reach the ceiling of His power.
- "according to the power that works in us" — The measure is the power already at work in believers — the resurrection power of the Spirit (see 1:19-20). This is not distant potential but present, indwelling power.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 1:19-20 — the "exceeding greatness of his power" that raised Christ from the dead.
- Jeremiah 32:17 — "there is nothing too hard for you."
- Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."
- Romans 16:25 — "to him who is able to establish you."
- Jude 24-25 — a parallel doxology to "him who is able to keep you from stumbling."
How to apply it today
Ephesians 3:20 lifts our eyes when our prayers feel small or our situation impossible. It does not promise that God will grant every specific thing we ask — it promises that His power and generosity exceed our capacity to even frame the request. Notice the anchor: "the power that works in us." The measure of what God can do is not your circumstances but His Spirit already living in you. Pray boldly, then, and hold your requests loosely, trusting that the God who can do "exceedingly abundantly" may answer in ways larger and different than you imagined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ephesians 3:20 promise God will give me whatever I ask? No. It celebrates God's ability to do more than we ask, not a guarantee that He will grant every specific request. The context is Paul's prayer for spiritual strength and love, and the verse assures us God can exceed even those high requests — always according to His wisdom and will.
What is "the power that works in us"? Earlier in Ephesians, Paul identifies it as the same mighty power God exerted "when he raised Christ from the dead" (1:19-20). For believers, this is the present work of the Holy Spirit within them — the ground on which the verse rests its confidence.
How should this verse shape my prayers? It encourages bold, expectant prayer while keeping God, not our wish list, at the center. We can ask greatly because God is greater still, and we can trust Him when the answer looks different from what we pictured, since He works beyond what we ask or think.