Recently we finished up a long series in our Wednesday studies from Colossians 1. The chapter oozes great truth about Jesus, His glory, and how he works in our lives. The first portion of the chapter features a prayer from Paul to the believers he writes.
The prayer reminds us of how God's work comes about in our lives.
vs. 9: "asking that you may be filled"
vs. 11: "being strengthened"
vs. 13: "He has delivered us..."
These verses and their please for wisdom, knowledge, fruitfulness in walking with Jesus, remind us how God works.
The prayer isn't for greater use of our natural abilities and powers. The prayer is for God to do what God does - bringing strength, wisdom, growth, even salvation itself - from where? - from outside of our natural gifts and abilities.
I hope this encouragement challenges us to pray. We don't pray for a position of what we have. We pray from a position of what we need. We always stand in need of God's work in our lives, either in coming to Christ in the first place or growing in any way as we seek to walk with him.
Pray today for strength from OUTSIDE who you are and what you have. You'll be surprised how God meets you and answers!
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin