One of the sweetest things in life is to hear a little child pray. Their off-the-wall prayers are done in earnest. As I think about their prayers and chuckle, I also realize how instructive their prayer life is. Yes, many of their prayers are not theologically accurate, but they are audacious.
In our modern-day language, the word audacious has taken on a somewhat negative connotation, but in reality it means bold, fearless, and daring. These children challenge me in how I approach God in prayer. Do I come to Him with bold prayers? Do I come to Him expectant? Do I come to Him for everything?
I would love to tell you that my answer is a hearty “Yes,” but it’s not. Maybe you’re like me and wanting to continue to grow in your prayer life and your relationship with Jesus. If so, our passage today is very instructive and encouraging.
As the Apostle Paul begins the letter to the church in Colossae, he writes a prayer for the people and their relationship with God. In verses 11-12, he gives us four areas of our life to begin seeking the Holy Spirit to do a work in. This is not an exhaustive list, but they are places that will lead to growth and flourishing when we are fully surrendered to God.
Strengthened with Power
Paul begins the prayer a few verses earlier. He asks that the Lord would fill the believers “with the knowledge of his will,” live “worthily of the Lord,” and bear “fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God” (1:10). Basically, he is praying that the believers would be fully surrendered to God and His ways and live in obedience.
He continues in verse 11 by asking the Lord to strengthen them “with all power according to his glorious might.”
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are ushered into a never-ending relationship with Him. We are also given the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides, convicts, encourages, illuminates, and strengthens us in our walk with Jesus.
When Paul prays that we would be strengthened with power, this is what he is talking about. He is praying that the Holy Spirit would be at work in our hearts and lives.
We know that life here on earth is not easy, especially for Christians. There are so many things vying for our attention, allegiance, and focus. We cannot fight against this while also remaining steadfast in Christ on our own. We need help.
This is why we need the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gives us the strength daily to stand firm and walk in the grace and peace of Christ. This happens when we let go of our self-sufficiency and pride and turn to the Lord. When you go through your day, you can turn to the Holy Spirit in prayer and ask Him to give you all that you need. You’ll find that He is waiting and willing to strengthen you in all situations and seasons.
Displaying Patience and Steadfastness
The next thing Paul prays is that we would have “all patience and steadfastness” (1:11). Patience and steadfastness are not two characteristics seen very often these days.
Our world is anything but patient. Instant gratification and quick solutions rule the day. If you want it, you can have it. Waiting is not so much an obstacle as much anymore. But when we are in a position where we need to wait, we find that we are irritable and sometimes inconsolable.
Steadfastness is much the same way. People are very quick to leave. When things get hard, the exit door is the first thing sought out. Finding someone who will sit with you in the hard, who won’t leave, or who will stand firm is rare.
For Christians, these characteristics are who Christ is. He was patient with those who rejected Him and those who were hurting. He spent time teaching and seeking the hurting when the crowds were around Him. And He gives us the greatest picture of being steadfast in His resolve to go to the cross for our sins.
Even though patience and steadfastness are not common characteristics these days, isn’t it what we want, though? We want someone who will be patient with us when we mess up yet again. We want someone who will sit with us in our questions, doubts, and hardship. We want someone who won’t leave when things take a turn. We have that in the person of Jesus.
Now, for those of us who are in Christ, we have the opportunity to do the same for others. As children of God with His Spirit living in us, we are given a new heart that is able to live like Christ. We are now able to exhibit patience and steadfastness. We can show others Jesus’ character and point them to Him.
Joyfully Giving Thanks
The third characteristic Paul prays for is that we would “joyfully [give] thanks to the Father” (1:11-12). Thanksgiving and joy are again two characteristics that we don’t see often but are markers of a believer.
We know that our sin cost us Jesus’ very life. Our salvation is a gift of grace through faith that we did not deserve nor earn. As such, we are to be some of the most thankful people in the world. The fact that the God of the universe would send His Son to die in our place and conquer Satan, sin, and death forever because of His great love should lead us to shout from the rooftops in thanksgiving.
We also recognize now that anything we have and experience is a gift of God. When we see this, it leads us to be more grateful and to rightfully hold things in proper perspective. We find that greed, pride, and control no longer have to have a hold on us. We can live in thanksgiving and with a servant’s heart to steward all that the Lord has graciously given us.
Joy is also something that comes from having a relationship with Jesus. Joy and happiness sound like similar characteristics but are very different from one another. Happiness is determined by our circumstances and feelings. It is fleeting. Joy, on the other hand, is a lasting state of our hearts. It is unmoved by the changes of our lives and the world. It is rooted and sure.
Because we know that our future is secure and our sins have been completely forgiven, we can live in unhindered joy. This joy is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. Our hard days, our saddest moments, and our worst seasons, though not what we want or plan, do not have to rule us. We can have a higher perspective and greater joy because we know where our hope is ultimately found.
As you go through your days, ask yourself “What am I thankful for? How has the Lord provided for me or blessed me today, and how can I tell Him thanks?” By doing this, you’ll find that your heart is more at peace because it is fixed on Jesus.
Sharing in the Inheritance
The final thing Paul prays is that believers would “share in the saints’ inheritance in the light” (1:12). He is saying that he wants the believers to fully understand their salvation and the benefits of being in Christ both now and for eternity.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus is alive. He has won our salvation. When we trust in Him, we are forgiven, but we are also made right with God and brought into His family. We are given a new heart, a new life, a new people, and a new family.
Notice that Paul prays that we would share the inheritance “in the light.” If you keep reading to verse 13, he tells us that we have been brought from darkness into light through Jesus Christ. We are no longer bound to the ways of the world, the ways of sin. We have a new outlook and a new inheritance.
I’ve talked to many women who view the gospel as just good news to save them from hell. But the gospel is so much more than this. Jesus promises to give us abundant life here and today.
It is a life, as already mentioned, that is marked by joy, peace, thanksgiving, belonging, and hope. We live with a new purpose. We belong to the church. We have the hope of heaven driving us to keep going.
God has chosen you to be His own. I pray that you wouldn’t miss out on all that comes with being His child and that you would continue to grow in your relationship with Christ, knowing that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is walking with you and in you every step of the way. And waiting at the end is Jesus Christ, who is our greatest love and the hope of all of our days.
