Colossians 1:9-14 (ESV)

[9] 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, [10] 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; [11] being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Apostle says that from the day he heard of the Colossians faith in Christ the above verses are what he has been praying for them. How different this prayer is from ours. He prays for the knowledge of God’s will so that they can walk worthy, be fruitful, and increase in their knowledge of God. We pray for God’s blessing. We pray for God’s provision. We pray for good things to happen to people. Do we pray that they will know God more and more deeply? When was the last time you heard that prayer request in a meeting?

He prays that they will be strengthened in God’s power for the purpose of endurance and patience. We pray for healing. We pray for deliverance. We pray for relief. He prayed for God’s power for endurance and patience. We actually joke, “Don’t pray for patience. God will send trials.” Paul prays for God’s power to be active in their lives so they can patiently endure trials. He knows trials will come.

We act as though it is God’s job to keep us comfortable and happy. God has a higher purpose. He wants us to know his will so that we might know him. He want us to know his will so that we might live in a way that honors him. He wants us to know his will so that we might be fruitful in good works. He want us to know his will so that we might be strengthened with his power rather than relying on our own. He wants us to know his will so that we might know him more fully and deeply. That was Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossae. Isn’t that what we ought to be praying for each other, not relief, but deep, growing, abiding faith as we know him more and more intimately day by day?