Week 6: March 13-19
Praying Scripture
Colossians 1:9-12 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 thanksto the Father, who has qualified youto share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Have you ever said these words when praying for someone and didn’t know what to say? “God, please give _______ strength,” or “God, please help_______.” We have all had this shared experience when we don’t exactly know how to pray for others. The Bible gives us many examples of prayers. The apostle Paul gives us many examples in his letters. When we pattern our prayers after Scripture we have the security of praying God’s words and His desires. Today we will examine Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1. This is the prayer that Paul is praying for the local church in Colossae.
“You may be filled with the knowledge of His will”
Paul’s first goal is that they be filled with knowledge of God’s will. Put another way, God’s intentions for the Christian life. Paul wants them to truly understand what the Christian life is about. Not just to know it but it. Paul wants us to to be FILLED with this knowledge not just having a small journal entry about it 2 years ago. His reference to Spiritual wisdom and understanding means practical wisdom and clear discernment.
“To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord”
Paul then prays that they take this knowledge and apply it to life. First, that they live a life pleasing to God. This has the idea of a servant seeking to anticipate and fill every wish of the master. We are to live a life living for His expectation and not our own. Second, to live a life that bears fruit of good works. See Gal 5 for a list of the fruit of the spirit. Third, this life should lead to spiritual growth, “increasing in the knowledge of God.”
“May you be strengthened with all power”
Paul prays that these people will get their strength not from self-empowerment, but from the unending power of God. This is not just a trite prayer, “God give them strength,” but a prayer for a heart of dependence on God’s strength not their own. This strength is for them to have patience and endurance with joy. (James 1:2)
“Giving thanks to the Father”
Paul prays for a life of gratitude. He wants them to live life in the reality that we have been “qualified” by God to be a part of HIs family. We have received this great inheritance. As Christians, God has transferred us from Satan’s dominion to Jesus’s great kingdom. We have been redeemed and forgiven. If we start with this understanding, we should always be joyful in our Christian life.
Give it a try! You can pray the “concepts” or open the Bible and insert your name or another’s name in the passage. Here is an example.
Father, fill me with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so I May walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to you, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May I be strengthened with all power, according to your glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, Help me give thanksto you Father, who has qualified Meto share in the inheritance of the saints in light……
Pray Together
- Pray through this passage inserting your name or other’s names right into the passage.
- Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week!
- Pray that God will develop in us a culture of prayer and dependence on Him to do the work that we endeavor to do.
Further Reading
- Some of Paul’s other prayers:
- Ephesians 1:17-19
- Ephesians 3:16-19
- Philippians 1:9-11