So, we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.
Colossians 1:9-11a NLT
When I was praying about starting this teaching ministry, I spent a lot of time asking God to give me some Scripture to be my foundation and direction. I knew that I loved God’s word and wanted all the women I knew to have that same love. But I was struggling to focus my thoughts and put my vision into words. And I wanted reassurance that I didn’t just want to get puffed up by getting filled with knowledge. I wanted to start with the why.
And God gave me these verses.
I want women (and men, too) to be able not grow in knowledge of God’s will so they will grow in wisdom and understanding. That wisdom and understanding shows us how to put the knowledge we gain into practice. Wisdom and understanding enable us to live in a way that pleases God and to bear every kind of good fruit for His kingdom. Fruit like love, joy, peace, kindness, and faithfulness. (Galatians 5:22-23) Fruit from sharing what we know about Jesus with others and seeing them grow in knowledge and understanding too.
And when we put these things into practice, we learn to know God better and better; we keep learning who He is and who we are in Jesus. As we learn more, our wisdom and understanding increase. We are strengthened with the power of His Spirit so that we can patiently endure the struggles of this life.
This is what I want for you, dear readers. I pray that you will grow in knowledge and wisdom and understanding so that you will be fruitful, strengthened by the Spirit to patiently endure until your time on earth is complete.
Think About: How has God fulfilled this prayer in your life?
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