Friday, August 7, 2026

Opening Scripture

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge – God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, I believe you can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to Your power at work within me. Help me to trust You today to meet all my needs. May Your love and peace be present and evident in my life. May others see Jesus in me. In His name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul describes his prayer for the Colossian church. Essentially, it is a prayer for spiritual maturity among those believers. It is worth noting that Paul prayed this prayer continuously for these followers of Jesus. It is not a one-and-done intercession, but an ongoing petition for God to help these people grow up in their faith.

This prayer reveals a great deal about Paul’s priorities and the health of the Christians in Colossae. Though Paul had not spent time with the church, he had heard a good report about them and had a personal concern for them. When Paul was in prison, Epaphras had informed him about their “love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.”

God had placed the Colossian church on Paul’s heart, so he found himself praying for them regularly. He recognized how strategic this group of Jesus followers would be in the spread of the gospel. His prayer was for their continued spiritual growth.

Just before today’s passage, Paul told the Colossians, “In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world – just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (Colossians 1:6). Paul wanted them to know they were part of something big that God was doing globally!

Paul prayed that they would be “filled” (pléroó) with the “knowledge” (epignósis) of God’s will. He eagerly desired for the Colossians to be filled to overflowing – abundantly complete – in their personal, experiential knowledge of God and His purpose for them. That knowledge comes by doing, not hearing.

Paul prayed that they would have spiritual “wisdom” (sophia) and “understanding” (sunesis) to realize what God was doing, to “connect the dots” and “put it all together.” He eagerly desired for them to receive the Spirit’s divine gift of comprehension and insight into the Person and work of God, perceiving and grasping the Father’s action and intention.

Paul prayed that they would live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. Paul repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the Christian’s “walk” (peripateó), the way they conduct themselves each day. “Worthy” (axiós) means suitable, matching, or of equal weight. The Christian’s walk should be appropriate to their salvation, both in their personal life as well as in their participation in the body of Christ.

That “worthy” life bears fruit in every good work, grows in the knowledge of God, and is strengthened with all power according to God’s glorious might. The “worthy” life has great endurance and patience, and constantly gives joyful thanks to the Father.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

A genuine “experiential knowledge” of God expresses itself in a transformed life. Our theme for this year is Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way. As we faithfully follow the Lord Jesus, we become more like Him as He changes us from the inside out.

We are filled with the knowledge of God’s will as the Spirit imparts divine wisdom and understanding to us. We develop a godly perspective on things. We choose to live under the Spirit’s control, so we can “walk worthy” of the Lord and please Him in every way.

We exhibit the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We develop endurance in difficulty. We trust God and rejoice in affliction. We cultivate an attitude of gratitude. There is vitality in our spirits, health in our hearts, and strength in our souls!

We need to frequently remind ourselves (and each other) that our Heavenly Father has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Do you have a deep, practical understanding of God’s will for you?

Do you pray regularly for your own spiritual maturity?

Do you pray regularly for the spiritual maturity of people you know?

How do you see God answering those prayers?

“I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right; but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation may be on the Lord’s side.” Abraham Lincoln

You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you can’t do more than pray until you’ve prayed!