Maybe Clearer?

Maybe Clearer?

by David Brenneman 

"For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 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; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all perseverance and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."

Colossians 1:9-12 NASB 

For His reasons, many words stuck out in my Bible reading this morning.  I know for me at least some things are probably a bit clearer than once they were. 

First, we see something of Paul's prayer list.  Ever wonder if he had one? Well, perhaps, here we go.  He may have meant it for his target audience, but the Spirit is saying it's for us, every generation. 

His prayer begins with his praying for his readers to see that which is the knowledge of His will in all spiritual understanding and wisdom.  Tends to make me remember "lean not on your own understanding". The reason being that we would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...in everything.  Not just Sunday's or maybe Wednesday's or group meetings.  All the time in all things. 

Bearing fruit in every good work.  Remembering that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. 

Those works increasing our knowledge of God. We learn more about God by the things we go through, not necessarily the easy times. 

Strengthened with all power...by setting our minds on the things that are above we will need Spiritual support from the Spirit. 

Oh the one that I have read but didn't see until now. "for the attaining of all perseverance".  We are GOING to go through sufferings here for this reason. Perseverance. Sanctification is the process with the goal of perseverance. 

The giving of thanks is at the other end of all this.

Be intentional in your life in Christ. 

Be keeping in mind that you need, that I need, to remember that we aren't to keep trying to escape every single situation. 

Plant a seed for a tree on the surface, plant one deep in the ground.  The one that struggles to grow will out live the one on the surface. The one that goes through the hard times learns perseverance. 

We are to intentionally be different than the world. 

We aren't supposed to give what is supposed to be God’s alone in our lives to anything or anyone in this world.  

This prayer maybe did clear up at least one question of mine in reading it. 

It's been sort of a repeated thought from many around me to keep getting in the habit of giving thanks to God...in everything. 

We also go through rough times because we WILL be given the opportunity to serve in comforting others with what we received as comfort.  Our sufferings help us through towards perseverance. 

I have often told people that if God leads you to something, He will lead you through something. The man or woman entering basic training isn't the same at the end. They are taught perseverance. 

Our full armor of God is what we wear in training in righteousness.  

Set your goals to have as much in your prayers concerning being thankful as you do in your needs.