Praying Your Destiny...

Colossians 1:9-14

 

We each have a God-given destiny. It's not unlike rafting down a river filled with sections of violent white-water rapids. It's futile to try to paddle upstream. It's foolish to get out of the raft. However, even if we do jump out (or fall out) we will still be carried downstream by the rush of the water. There is a river of God's grace that is carrying each of us towards our destiny. The question is, how do we know where we are going?. The answer is prayer.

 

Paul reminds the Colossians in 1:9 that he is praying for them to, "be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding". He wants them to know and understand the will of God--the very will (God's purpose, design, pleasure) that is being accomplished in their lives. Following Paul's example, we should be praying for each other to, "be filled with the knowledge of His will".

 

Paul expects that his prayer will have at least seven results. They are listed for us in verses 10-12.

 

• #1--"so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord". This means that we look like Jesus and that we act like Jesus.
• #2--"to please Him in all respects". God is pleased when we stay in the boat in the middle of the river of our destiny.
• #3--"bearing fruit in every good work". I love the fact that the promise of prayer is that we will "bear fruit in every good work". What about the bad works? They are buried in the bottom of the sea--they will not bear fruit! Hallelujah!
• #4--"increasing in the knowledge of God". The more we follow God--the more we understand God and His ways.
• #5--"strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might". This is literally, "empowered with power from His power"! God empowers His people to do the work that Jesus did--and the work that He desire to continue to do through His church.
• #6--"attaining of all steadfastness and patience". Most of us will not reach our destination overnight--it's a process of waiting and enduring.
• #7--"joyously giving thanks to the Father". Pray with thanksgiving giving God thanks for all that you see Him doing each day.

 

Why does Paul expect these rather dramatic results to his prayer? That's easy!

 

God has, "QUALIFIED US to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light" (v12). If God has qualified us, then there is absolutely nothing that we can do to make it better. No one can qualify themselves. And, if God has qualified us then only God can disqualify us...and He doesn't do that!

 

God has, "RESCUED US from the domain of darkness" (v13). He has already rescued us! We are free!

 

God has, "TRANSFERRED US to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (v13-14). Amazing Grace!