I was reading this earlier today and was thoroughly inspired, I think this was one colossal prayer for the Colossians… (couldn’t resist):
‘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.’ (Col 1:9-12)
What would happen if we got regularly praying prayers like this for our churches?
The phrase that especially grabbed me was ‘increasing in the knowledge of God’. ‘Knowledge’ in the Bible often has within it the idea of experiential knowledge, and this could be no more applicable that in our relationship with God as it is here. What do I mean by that? It’s the difference between reading about a chemical reaction in a text book, and performing the experiment yourself to determine what happens. It’s the difference between knowing about me because you read my blog, or knowing about me because you’ve spent time with me and spoken to me.
It’s God’s desire that we keep on increasing in the knowledge of God. I don’t just think this means reading the Bible and gathering more facts about Him. I think it’s to do with getting into His actual presence, communing and communicating with Him, speaking to Him and hearing Him speaking to you – worshiping and praying, and through the living Word hearing His voice. Sometimes the biggest and most helpful encouragement we could use is: go and spend time with God. Maybe you’ve not given Him so much time lately. Maybe you’ve got busy, or feel far from God. Remedy the situation: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
Ben David Trigg 