Colossians 1:9-12

9: For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10: so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11: strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
12: giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

*** 

Because of their faith in Christ and love for the saints, Paul told the Colossians that they had not ceased to pray for them since they day they heard of it (vs. 3-4). The content of their prayer for the Colossians was similar to the prayer for the Ephesians, though the Ephesians prayer went into more detail (Eph. 1:17-23 and 3:14-21).

Specifically, Paul said they prayed for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that… There was a specific reason for them to know and understand the will of God. It was so they would walk in a way that was worthy of the Lord. It was so they would please Him in every way, bear fruit in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God.

Paul said as they were filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding and walked worthy of the Lord, they would also be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. This strengthening would enable them to attain steadfastness and patience. As we are strengthened with God’s power—the power that is according to His glorious might, not our own self-determination—we too will come to a place of steadfastness and patience. This is a place a stability from which we may joyously give thanks to the Father—the One who qualifies believers to share in the inheritance Jesus obtained.

Through this prayer, we see the importance of knowing and understanding God’s will from His perspective. Paul understood this which is why he prayed this prayer, and others like it, for other believers, especially those new to the faith. We can pray this for ourselves, always seeking to be accurate in our understanding of God’s will for us, yet we should not neglect praying for others, especially new believers or anyone who might be struggling with knowing and understanding the will of God. Paul had not met these ones he was writing to, yet he did not hesitate to pray for them.

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