“We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom[d] and forgave our sins.” Col 1:9-14 (NLT)

What strikes me is how God focused Paul’s prayer was.

Paul focuses his prayer on his desire that God will give spiritual wisdom and understanding. He sees the fruitful lives of the Saints coming as a consequence of God giving them wisdom and understanding.

For Paul, first comes knowledge of God’s will and spiritual wisdom and understanding

This enables us to live a life that honors and pleases God

This enables us to produce good fruit through our good works

This enables us to grow in the knowledge of God.

Paul likewise focuses on God granting us his glorious power. This glorious power will strengthen and empower us.

This enables us to have endurance and patience

This enables us to be filed with joy

This enables us to give thanks to the father.

For Paul, every good thing comes from God.

He has enabled us to share in his inheritance

He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness

Christ has purchased our freedom

Christ has forgiven our sins

So often we human beings tend to focus on ourselves, our actions, or beliefs, our works. But Paul understood that the focus should always be on deepening our understanding and appreciation of the incredible things that God has done. God is the hero of the story who rescues us and enables us to do the good that we can do in our lives.

All glory and honor and praise be his forever.