And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Colossians 1:9-12
I really love Paul's prayers to the believers in Colossae, and similar ones in Ephesians and Phillipians. There's just so much packed into them. You can tell by the tone that he genuinely cares for them and that he truly understands the message and power of Christ. He gets it.
So here's just some bullet points of what hits me in this prayer found in Colossians 1.
vs 9a- And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you...He didn't stop praying for them once they became Christians. They believed, and they are loving others, and are bearing fruit and growing and Paul still prays earnestly for them!
vs 9b-that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding...our actions and decisions are going to be based on what we are filled with. Am I filled with FOX News, impressing others, success at work, school, making money, me time, facebook, my kids, sports, etc? Or am I filled with words of truth from God in His Bible?
vs 10-so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him...The goal of being filled with the knowledge of His will is that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and to please Him.
vs 11a- May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might...That's a lot of power! The God who created the universe and was able to conquer death is offering to strengthen us. Paul's prayer to the Ephesians says, "that you may know...what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe." I think I know of His power, but I don't tap into into it nearly enough. I too often just use my own strength and don't ask Him to flex for me.
vs 11b- for all endurance and patience with joy...not just patience, but patience with joy! That's not going to happen when I rely on my own works or strength to do what the Lord has called me to do. When I am out of endurance and patience (with joy!), I need to run to God and be strengthened with His power, which is a lot!
Lord, Thank you for Paul and his heart for the early Christians and his example to me how to pray for others. But I really ask for this prayer for myself. May the eyes of my heart be enlightened, so that I may know the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe. And would you fill me with the knowledge of Your will, so that I would walk in a manner worthy of You, pleasing to You. And would you give me Your power to show love to others with endurance and patience with joy!
I really love Paul's prayers to the believers in Colossae, and similar ones in Ephesians and Phillipians. There's just so much packed into them. You can tell by the tone that he genuinely cares for them and that he truly understands the message and power of Christ. He gets it.
So here's just some bullet points of what hits me in this prayer found in Colossians 1.
vs 9a- And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you...He didn't stop praying for them once they became Christians. They believed, and they are loving others, and are bearing fruit and growing and Paul still prays earnestly for them!
vs 9b-that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding...our actions and decisions are going to be based on what we are filled with. Am I filled with FOX News, impressing others, success at work, school, making money, me time, facebook, my kids, sports, etc? Or am I filled with words of truth from God in His Bible?
vs 10-so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him...The goal of being filled with the knowledge of His will is that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and to please Him.
vs 11a- May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might...That's a lot of power! The God who created the universe and was able to conquer death is offering to strengthen us. Paul's prayer to the Ephesians says, "that you may know...what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe." I think I know of His power, but I don't tap into into it nearly enough. I too often just use my own strength and don't ask Him to flex for me.
vs 11b- for all endurance and patience with joy...not just patience, but patience with joy! That's not going to happen when I rely on my own works or strength to do what the Lord has called me to do. When I am out of endurance and patience (with joy!), I need to run to God and be strengthened with His power, which is a lot!
Lord, Thank you for Paul and his heart for the early Christians and his example to me how to pray for others. But I really ask for this prayer for myself. May the eyes of my heart be enlightened, so that I may know the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe. And would you fill me with the knowledge of Your will, so that I would walk in a manner worthy of You, pleasing to You. And would you give me Your power to show love to others with endurance and patience with joy!
2 comments:
I was just wanting to do my devotional and there it was already for me. Thanks, Heidi!
I love the whole idea of patience with joy. That goes so well with- the joy of the Lord is my strength.
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