“Asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
(Colossians 1:9)
Reflections:
We are told by Paul that in everything we should present our requests to God. (Philippians 4:6) However prayer should also include our praying for the things that God wants. Some of these are set out for us in the Lord’s Prayer where we can join our desires to those of God.
Now Paul turns his attentions to our individual and corporate growth and maturity – praying that God will fill is with the knowledge of His will – obviously in all things – through our growth in spiritual wisdom and understanding. This comes through the work and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit within us as well as through our growth in knowledge and understanding as we walk with God along the path that He has set for us. The more we know of God and His ways, and the more we get to know Him personally, the deeper will be our understanding of His will and ways in our life situations.
Because we can trust that He is the God of Love we can trust His will and His ways for us. They are designed to draw us closer to Him and into a deeper and more fulfilling relationship.
- “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
The purpose of this prayer of Paul’s is not only to bless us. It is to enable us to fulfil the will of God for us and through us more readily and purposefully.
- “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may 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 joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:10-12)
Response:
We are called to make Paul’s prayer for the Colossians our own prayer for ourselves and our Christian community.
Prayer:
Lord fill me with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that I may live a life worthy of You in every way. Amen.
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(Photo: (c) Catherine Bondonno)
The Soaring Eagle 