Black coffee steamed, a fir-scented candle glowed as I began to journal a prayer from Colossians 1:9-12, in response to a Bible study prompt. What follows is the result, with recent additions and revisions.
Perhaps you’d like to pray along?
Thank you, Father, for including many exemplary prayers in the Bible. Moses showed us how to intercede for others, David, how to praise, and Daniel, how to pray using scripture (1).
You’ve also provided promises, assuring our prayers will be answered–for those who believe in you, seek to live your ways, and pray according to your will (2).
With these assurances in mind, I appropriate for me Paul’s prayer for the Colossian Christians (1:9-12), desiring to experience the same realities in my life: knowledge of your will, obedience worthy of you, power to endure, and joyful gratitude for the promised inheritance in your kingdom.
I too pray to be filled with the knowledge of your will (v.9)—for small matters and major decisions alike. I know that fulfillment of your purpose will result in prosperity of soul (3).
I pray for spiritual wisdom and understanding (v. 9), “to recognize truth and discern reality from your point of view.” Many want to make truth relative to fit their world view apart from you. But “ignorance of spiritual realities is the constant source of error, instability, and sorrow” (4).
In contrast, knowledge of your divine truth brings helpful instruction, guidance, comfort, and more. For me to live by your truth is what you deserve, as my all-wise, loving Father. It also brings you honor and allows me to enjoy “life in all its fullness.” How lavish you are in your goodness, O Lord (6)!
May my life “be the kind that brings credit to [your] grace” (7). One way to do that is to bear fruit (v. 10); to be your instrument of mercy to others with my words and actions. But to do that I need your power, Father, your enablement to carry out what you ask.
I also need your power to persevere, equipping me to even triumph through trials. Eugene Peterson called it “glory-strength—strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy” (v. 11 MSG). Such an incredible gift!
I praise you for your supply of endurance. Millions of martyrs who’ve gone before have proved: no circumstance in life can ever defeat . . . no event can ever vanquish (8).
How many, Lord, were tortured and maimed, killed by lions in the Roman Colosseum, burned alive, or tied inside a burlap sack and thrown in a river to drown?
The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1883
And yet as death drew near, they spoke and sang words of joy, because of their love for you and their confidence of heaven with you. You made it possible for them, you’ll make it possible for me to deal triumphantly with whatever life delivers.
You also provide patience to withstand unpleasant, even malicious people. You make it possible to set aside bitterness, despair, and exasperation and focus instead on the joyful conclusion ahead, just as Christ did.
Help me to do so, Father. May I remember to take encouragement from your promise that even out of evil, you bring good (9).
Your most mature saints exemplify “giving joyful thanks” (v. 12), even as they suffer. Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, offered a perfect example.
She was often in pain from neuralgia, sometimes bedridden for weeks at a time, yet served faithfully for fifty-five years, even writing thirty-five inspiring books.
Amy Carmichael
“Joy is not gush, ” she wrote. “Joy is not mere jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence ~ acceptance, rest ~ in God’s will, whatever comes.”
I know she’s right.
Thank you, O God, for your willingness to bestow all these life-enhancing entities: knowledge of and compliance with your will that leads to satisfaction, strength and power to endure, and joy–especially in the glorious inheritance you’ve provided in your kingdom of light!
Help me do your bidding, Lord, joyfully leaving the outcome to you.
Notes:
- Exodus 32; Psalm 145 among many, Daniel 9.
- 1 Peter 3:12; 1 John 5:14-15.
- Psalm 40:8.
- 4. J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English, Colossians 1:9; Charles Spurgeon, http://www.preceptaustin.org.
- Psalm 119:14, 105, 52.
- John 10:10 GNT; Psalm 31:19.
- http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org.
- William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, The Lettters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, 131.
- Hebrews 12:2; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:15.
Image credits: Nancy Ruegg; http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.picryl.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.publicdomainpictures.net (2).
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Thanks for these encouraging spiritual thoughts Nancy.
Perhaps my favorite Amy Carmichael quote summed up how to live a joyful and fulfilling life in 6 words …
“Love to live. Love to love”
Be blessed and …
Keep Looking Up ^… His Best is Yet to Come!
I’m so glad you found encouragement here, Fred. Thank you for sharing another Amy Carmichael quote with us!
Thank you for your truth today. I needed these words of God’s love and his boundless mercy. A close family member received a diagnosis of cancer. She is a strong believer of God’s plan for her life but needs prayers from many. Thanks for doing so. We both know that the outcome will be good no matter what it is.
I’m so sorry, dear Cathy, for the regretful news about your family member. Praise God she knows Jesus! I’m praying in this moment for her HEALING, in the name of Jesus, and for a medical team striving for excellence that can offer her the very best of compassionate care.
Thank you for those words of encouragement. She is a wonderful Christian mom, daughter, wife and employee. Prayer is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for the prayer invitation, Nancy. Loved reciting it! 🙂
How delightful that over the miles we prayed in unison, so to speak!
😁
I join you in prayer, amen 🙏🏽. Our God is faithful
Oh yes–praise God for his faithfulness. As I said to Nancy above, how delightful that over the miles we prayed in unison!
Amy Carmichael presents to us today what it means to stand up for the truth and reality of Jesus especially when life isn’t easy. I’m blown away by her conviction and courage, writing all those books even when her physical condition shouldn’t have allowed it. Thanks, Nancy, for elaborating on yet another saint devoted to the Lord!
You’re welcome, Martha. SO many stellar saints show us the way to joyful, contented living in spite of hindrances. I love learning their stories; I’m glad you do too!
Hi Nancy,
Praying for God’s will often means to long and weary road. But what a great reward for not letting the world consume us.
Thank you, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Isn’t it amazing that many on that long and weary road are the ones who reflect most the light of Christ, with their strong faith, inexplicable peace, abundant joy, and more. Their reward is highly deserved (2 Corinthians 4:17)!
Yes.
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Amen, Nancy, thank you!
You’re welcome, Dana! And thank YOU for stopping by!
Lovely insight into a process of prayer. so honest and real.
Praise God for his insights, and for helping me to keep the prayer honest and real!
Nancy, thank you for the beautiful prayer from scripture! You are always encouraging! Blessings!
I’m so glad you found beauty and encouragement here, Pam. Praise God!
One phrase stood out to me: “appropriate for me” It’s just miraculous to me that we can apply those ancient words to our present day living. As Eugene Peterson has said so well, “Everything in the Bible is liveable.” TT
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It IS miraculous and wonderful that GOD’S words never become obsolete or irrelevant to the times. I too love the way Eugene Peterson expressed that reality! Thank you for sharing that quote, Michele!
Praying from scripture is so powerful. Spending time with God over coffee is wonderful
Agreed, Matt!
I needed this today! I love that quote by Eugene Peterson: “glory-strength–strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy.” I want to live like that, with the hope and promise of His presence, the power of His Holy Spirit, and the knowledge that I am eternally His. The prayer was beautiful, Nancy. Thank you.
Thank YOU, Dayle. Praise God for his timing, prompting me to post this post, this week. I’m so glad you found beauty here, too!
Thank you for the powerful prayer, straight from God’s Word.
You’re most welcome, Patty. Praise God for his inspiration!
Blessings Nancy for sharing these encouraging reflections as one steps into another moment of prayer. Scripture provides a cornerstone from our faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for sharing the voice of Amy Carmichael. I haven’t used her thoughts for some time, but I’ve made a note to follow up.
Praise God you found encouragement here, Richard. Amy Carmichael shared much wisdom and insight in her writings. You’ll no doubt find many gems worthy of pondering.
And all God’s people said amen. Because we’ve released every last detail into His wise and loving care.
Amen, Linda. And when we do, God provides such peace and comfort in our spirits!
What a wonderful prayer, Nancy! I’ve been praying from the book The Power of a Praying Wife book for the past year or so. I love spontaneously prayer, but it can also be so powerful to have a guide and be reminded to pray for things you normally overlook.
Thank you for sharing!
I too find inspiration from the prayers of others. You’re right, Stacey, they often remind us to pray for things we’d normally overlook.