READ COLOSSIANS 1:9-12

Today's lesson aim is to encourage you to pray daily for three things:  God's will, a worthy life, and the power of God.

How often we go through life expecting God to meet our needs! And we never grasp the critical importance of our own involvement—that of prayer, constant prayer.  Paul asked three things; he made three requests. All three requests are important for every church and all believers. Note how these three requests lead to a deeper experience with the Lord, a much stronger walk than most believers experience. Every believer should covet these three things and covet them diligently.

Request 1: To know God's will—to be filled with the knowledge of God's will (v.9).

"For this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."  Are you focused upon knowing God's will?  Are living with a certainty that you are in God's will?

Note what is stated:  we are to "...be filled with the knowledge of His will..."  It is not enough to just know God's will; we are to be filled with the knowledge of His will.  What is being talked about is not God's will for a particular thing nor for a few things.  God's will involves all of life, everything we do every moment of every day.  The will of God involves what we do, say, and even think.

Request 2: To walk worthy of Christ (v.10).

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." 

Having a precise understanding of God's will, particularly as recorded in His Word, enables us to walk worthy of Him.  The word "worthy" has, among other things, the sense of appropriateness and suitability.  Thus, a proper understanding of God's will and Word will enable us to walk worthy before Him.  Being fruitful in every good work is also part of walking worthy of the Lord.

Request 3: To possess the power of God (v.11).

"Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."

Paul prayed that the believers at Colossae would be empowered with all power by God's glorious strength and power.  This presents an important foundation for praying for spiritual power that originates in the power of God.  The flesh is weak according to the teaching of Christ (see Matthew 26:41). It also profits us nothing (John 6:63). "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:8)

Does your prayer life follow the pattern presented by Paul in Colossians 1:9-11?  Are you seeking to know God's will?  Are you determined to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing?  Are you seeking to live energized by God's power rather than living in the flesh?

May our praying come alive!

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. Are you living in God’s will?  Explain.  If not, why not? 

2.  How do you know for sure that you are living in the fullness God’s will?

3.  What is the source of the Christian’s power?  What are the supernatural results of this power at work in you?

4.  Share a time when you sensed God’s power.  What impact did it make on how you are living today?