It is the prayer of Paul to the Colossians that inspired this article and I will therefore begin with it. In this series, I would like to look at a few prayers which I consider to be the most powerful of the New Testament (NT); those that any serious Christian should regularly pray. I will not mention the Pater Noster (Our Father) - I have already written something on it in a previous article – which is more than a prayer to me: it is a way of life. Looking at these prayers, I hope we can find what the main concerns of those who prayed them (Paul and Jesus, particularly) were, what they deemed were essential to the first century believers and, by God’s grace, this could also help us transform our own prayer life.
Paul’s prayer for the Colossians
Col 1:9-11, “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.”
Paul wished above all things that the Colossians – Christians who bore the fruits of the Gospel and whose faith in Christ and brotherly love were renowned -, be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. He did not want them to only know it from time to time, but he prayed that they be filled with it. He wanted it to be revealed to them through the wisdom and knowledge that the Spirit communicates. In a way, he wanted them to be filled with spiritual knowledge and wisdom which would always enable them to discover the will of the Lord. Paul prayed like that because he knew how advantageous it was to be thus filled with His will. He knew it would help them to:
- Walk in a manner worthy to the Lord
- Be totally agreeable to Him
- Bear fruit in everything, because all they do would be a good thing
- Know God and grow
- Experience God’s power in trials so that they could cope with perseverance, patience and joy.
These are just as many things that we should ardently desire. I have largely discussed the importance of God's will in many articles and I will not repeat myself. Just click on the corresponding label on your left and you will have access to all of them. I will simply remind us that: “This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1Jn 5:13-14
Instead of focusing solely on material things, may the daily bread that we ask God rather be our daily measure of spiritual wisdom and understanding. In this way, filled with the knowledge of His will for each new day, we can honour Him and our day can glorify Him. Let us pray that He helps us to bear fruit and do EVERY thing well. Let’s ask Him to help us grow in Him by revealing us something new about Him. Let’s pray for Him to grant us the grace to endure with patience, joy and perseverance, any possible setback or testing during the day. If we pray like that, we can be certain that He is listening to us and will grant our requests because such prayers are made in accordance with His will.
Have a ‘wonderblessed’ week in CHRIST JESUS, the LORD.
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