I want to share this prayer by Paul found in Colossians. It has been called an, “Apostolic Prayer.” Paul was praying for believers that he had not met. Perhaps he is even writing this from prison. He had heard of their faith and love and wanted to encourage them in their faith journey having an understanding of the circumstances that were here. I sense that this prayer is a “timeless” prayer as it is a prayer for the church, a prayer for you and I even today.
Col 1:9-14 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
What I see as key points in this prayer:
1. God fill us with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.
* We can always use knowledge, wisdom and understanding from the Holy Spirit concerning His will.
* “We must know His will, in order to do it” (M. Henry)
2. So that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work
* Our aim is to walk worth, pleasing the Lord, that our lives will bear fruit in every good work. Jesus set the example. May we follow His steps, let our walk mirror His.
* Not only in Good words, but also in Good deeds (works)
* Good Knowledge without a good life is does not profit” (M. Henry)
3. Growing in the knowledge of God.
* Oh, that we would continue to grow spiritually in our knowledge of God. This should be our aim.
4. Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might.
* Needing this strength and power, not of our own, but by and through Him, so that we may stand against our adversary, to be strengthened for the journey that requires what follows.
5. That you may have great endurance and patience.
* Not sure about you, but needing “great” endurance and patience, this will not be an easy journey, it will require endurance and patience for this, my faith journey.
* All patience includes all the kinds of it; not only bearing patience, but waiting patience. (M. Henry)
6. Giving Joyful Thanks.
* Joyful thanks through times of endurance and patience.
* Only through His strength, nothing of our own strength or ability enables one to be joyful in and through “all” circumstances.
7. It is always good to remember:
* He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
* For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
* In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
May you be encouraged, strengthened today my friend through this powerful prayer of Paul.
Pastor Jeff