Daily Encouragement

On our second day of looking at Paul's prayer for the believers in Colosse, we see Paul going from encouraging them in where they are in their relationship with Christ and their love for God's people to encouraging them by speaking to their growth--"spiritual wisdom."

"So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better." (Colossians 1:9-10)

He's not at all saying that we should put a hold on loving others while we gain understanding and wisdom, but we add to it. The more we know and understand God, the more we will know and desire His will in our lives, and the more we will desire to do His will, and the more we do His will the more we will get to know God better. It's an amazing cycle that draws us closer and closer, but it is up to us to engage it even when the circumstances are, shall we say, less than comfortable.

This is my prayer for you and for myself today. I would encourage you to take a moment to say these verses out loud but turn them around in a prayer for yourself and as a prayer for your friend, your husband, your children, or anyone that God lays on your heart.

There is more to this encouraging prayer that we'll look at tomorrow--in the meantime, may your Monday be filled with hope and joy that comes from a heart that is completely surrendered to Christ.