Day 41: Colossians 1:9b

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”



Many of us go through life wanting to know God’s will for us. I have known people who will read books, go to conferences, and join groups in the hope that somehow God will speak some new revelation to them.


Maybe you are that person today. Maybe you are just completely tied up trying to figure out what God wants for you. If you are, then I have good news.


In this verse, Paul is telling the Colossians that he is praying for them constantly that they would have knowledge of God’s will. Then, with uncanny precision, Paul lays out what part of God’s will for them he wants for them: spiritual wisdom and understanding.


Here’s the good news for those of you who are searching for God’s will: God isn’t a God of secrets. He wants you to know His will for you. In fact, He wrote it down for you. That’s right. His word, the Bible, is a detailed plan of His will for you. Now, God may get even more detailed with you, and in that case, I promise you that He will let you know. He is not playing games with you, or keeping things from you. This is the God that set a bush on fire and then spoke out of it to get Moses attention. He can do the same thing for you.


Now, let’s get to this particular bit of God’s will for your life: God wants us to have spiritual wisdom and understanding. Remember way back when we started this devotion what we decided wisdom was: knowledge plus application. God is giving us both sides of this equation right here. This is what Paul is saying. He is praying that the Colossians are given spiritual understanding and wisdom. Remember that they have to have spiritual understanding before they can have wisdom. Paul is praying that God would give the Colossians knowledge plus application.


God wants you to have the same thing. Part of God’s will for your life is that you would understand spiritual things, and then apply them to your life. How do you do that? Read the Bible, and then go and do it.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: The Christian leader knows God’s word and applies it to their life. They understand that God’s Will is found in the Bible, not hidden from anybody.


Here’s a set of verses for you to meditate on today: Exodus Chapter 3 and 4


Prayer: Father, make me content to know Your word and apply it to my life. Give me spiritual knowledge and wisdom to live my life according to Your ways. In Christ’s name, amen.