“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; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (KJV, Col. 1:9-10).
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you”
Father, I thank You for the gift of prayer. It is a blessing to be able to talk to You throughout my day. Help me to grow in my awareness of You. Teach me what it means to pray without ceasing and to live my life with an attitude of prayer.
Sometimes I’m not particularly eager to pray. Sometimes I find it challenging to know what to pray about. Forgive me for my sin and increase my desire to want to spend time with You in prayer. When Jesus was on the earth, I see He would spend nights with You in prayer. If Jesus needed to pray, how much more do I?
“and to desire”
Please fill me with godly desires. Your Word tells me Jesus lived for You and longed to do Your will at all times. Elsewhere I read of the apostle Paul and how he desired to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of him.
I recognize that I need Your Spirit’s help. I also acknowledge that I need to come before Your Word so that my thinking will change. Paul has told me that I must not be conformed to this world. Instead, I must be transformed by the renewing of my mind.
Your Word is like a double-edged sword. It pierces to the division of the soul and spirit and discerns the thoughts and intentions of my heart. Therefore, search me with Your Word and show me if there is any grievous way in me and lead me along the everlasting path.
“that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will”
Father, please fill me with the knowledge of Your will. Moses has told me in the book of Deuteronomy that the secret things belong to You. However, what You have revealed in Your Word belongs to me, and I am called to obey. May I always remember that, first and foremost, Your will has been revealed to me in Your Word, and I am called to apply what I know. All of Your commands are revelations of your will for me. Please open my eyes by the Spirit of illumination so I can know and believe Your Word.
“in all wisdom”
Would You bless with wisdom from on high? I believe that You will give me wisdom when I ask for it. However, I also know I must have faith to acquire Your wisdom. Your Word has also told me that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Therefore, may I look to You with reverence. Cause me to always humble myself before You and recognize Your greatness, holiness, and justice.
Teach me what it means that I can do nothing apart from You. Please show me the frailty of my life and instruct me through the grass that quickly withers. You are eternal; I am finite. You are strong, and I am weak. You are the Creator, and I am the creation. May I always fear Your name.
“and spiritual understanding”
When Jesus was upon the earth, He encountered a man who was born blind. He spit in the mud and rubbed his eyes, and afterward, the man saw in part. As a result, Jesus rubbed the man’s eyes again, and then the man could see. The lesson was clear. Faith does not shoot up at once but is a process. So understating is as well.
Father, would You please rub my eyes this day? Help me to see clearly what it is that You would want me to see. Give me an understanding of Your Word so I can bear much fruit. However, I pray that I would never lean on my own understanding, for Your Word says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). Therefore, may I always trust in You and acknowledge You in all my ways.
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord”
Teach me how to walk worthy unto You. You are worthy of my devotion, but I need Your help. I fall short often but also see that You honor sincerity and a heart set upon You. May You work within my heart and cause my life to abound for You. Paul has said, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3). Help me apply Paul’s words and live a life worthy of You.
“unto all pleasing”
Ultimately I should desire to please You in all my conduct. Unfortunately, sometimes I can be selfish and unconcerned about pleasing You. Please forgive me and help me to repent of my selfishness. I see that Jesus always pleased You in everything He did. His life has been given to be a ransom, hope, help, and example.
In the Gospel accounts, I see that Jesus endured many afflictions. His road was not paved with gold. Your will for Him was not to dwell in a palace but a slum village in poverty. Sometimes I can allow my circumstances to dictate my devotion to You. But when I look to Jesus, I see that in much adversity, He lived to please His Father in all He did.
“being fruitful”
Father, You are concerned with fruit. In the Old Testament, You tell me that Israel was Your vine. You went to Israel for fruit, but all You found was wild fruit. Therefore, when Jesus came to the world, He was called the True Vine. Jesus was the fulfillment of a Vine that would bear fruit for You.
I also see how Jesus brings forth fruit for Your glory. He does so through His branches. You have declared me to a branch and told me I am united with Christ. I cannot bear fruit by myself; instead, apart from Jesus, I can do nothing. I know that my only hope of living righteously and bearing fruit comes from Jesus producing fruit through me.
This does not mean that I do nothing. However, it does mean that I must depend upon Jesus each day and look to Jesus for His life-giving sap. Paul has told me that through Christ, I can do all things.
“in every good work”
Works do not save me, but my life must also not be devoid of good works. I am saved by grace through faith, and this was not of myself. Instead, it was Your gift to me. It came apart from works, so I would have no room to boast about myself. Nevertheless, I am still Your workmanship and have been created in Christ Jesus unto good works. You have prepared works for me, and I pray that You would show them to me.
“and increasing in the knowledge of God”
Father, help me to grow in my knowledge and understanding of Who You are. Knowing You is not a means to an end. It is the end. Jesus has said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). It is a blessing to know You, and one day I will know You much better than I do today. Please give me glimpses of eternity through knowledge of You. However, I pray that You will help me to apply the knowledge You give me. In Jesus’ name, Amen