Good morning -
It's at least as much about "how" as it is "what". What we are to do is pray but how we pray isn't always clear. Fortunately, we've been given an excellent pattern:
"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, 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 steadfastness 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)
The key focus is that we pray for one another to know so that we can live. Knowledge is the foundation for lifestyle. When knowledge is the basis for lifestyle, it has a reciprocal effect: it produces more knowledge as well as good works. The end result is power to live a steady life characterized by patience and joyful thankfulness.
The great goal and objective before us is the building of character that makes us fit for the kingdom of God. We become powerful tools of transformation in the hands of the Author of truth as we are personally experience transformation. In this way the kingdom silently grows in and through us even as a mustard seed grows.
I well remember learning key Bible truth in the college classroom several years ago. I didn't honestly value much of what I learned because I saw it largely as an intellectual exercise. It was only when I began to find real energy and transformation that truth came to matter. That transforming truth has become life and vitality to me and hopefully is producing God-pleasing fruit.
My prayer for each of you reading this is the same as Paul's: that you literally be filled with knowledge that produces character, and that the forming of character produces even more knowledge. Through this process may your life bear fruit and may you experience abundant power that cultivates steadiness, patience and joyful thankfulness as you reflect upon the Father who is preparing you to share in His wonderful inheritance. Could there be any more important prayer than this?
Pastor Steve
It's at least as much about "how" as it is "what". What we are to do is pray but how we pray isn't always clear. Fortunately, we've been given an excellent pattern:
"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, 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 steadfastness 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)
The key focus is that we pray for one another to know so that we can live. Knowledge is the foundation for lifestyle. When knowledge is the basis for lifestyle, it has a reciprocal effect: it produces more knowledge as well as good works. The end result is power to live a steady life characterized by patience and joyful thankfulness.
The great goal and objective before us is the building of character that makes us fit for the kingdom of God. We become powerful tools of transformation in the hands of the Author of truth as we are personally experience transformation. In this way the kingdom silently grows in and through us even as a mustard seed grows.
I well remember learning key Bible truth in the college classroom several years ago. I didn't honestly value much of what I learned because I saw it largely as an intellectual exercise. It was only when I began to find real energy and transformation that truth came to matter. That transforming truth has become life and vitality to me and hopefully is producing God-pleasing fruit.
My prayer for each of you reading this is the same as Paul's: that you literally be filled with knowledge that produces character, and that the forming of character produces even more knowledge. Through this process may your life bear fruit and may you experience abundant power that cultivates steadiness, patience and joyful thankfulness as you reflect upon the Father who is preparing you to share in His wonderful inheritance. Could there be any more important prayer than this?
Pastor Steve
posted by steve @ 12:36 PM
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