Prayer and the Will of God

. . . having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we . . . should be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:11, 12b)

Our discussion here will follow the order of the Greek text of verse 12, in which (as reflected in the King James Version) should be to the praise of His glory precedes “who were the first to hope in Christ” (which phrase will be discussed below in relation to the human perspective).

God’s perspective on our inheritance in Christ is here shown in His predestination, His power, and His preeminence.

God’s predestination. having been predestined according to His purpose. As Christians we are what we are because of what God chose to make us before any man was created. From eternity past He declared that every, elect sinner—though vile, rebellious, useless, and deserving only of death—who trusted in His Son would be made as righteous as the One in whom they put their trust. As Paul has already established, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (v. 4). . . .

http://www.macarthurcommentaries.com