A lack of endurance often results in despondency or, even worse, a losing of heart. If you find yourself losing heart and tiring of the test, one answer is prayer.
The Apostle Paul prayed such for the Colossians as he asked God for a fortitude which no situation can conquer and a patience which no person can crush.
Today would be a good day to pray for someone’s patience—maybe even your own.
Paul gave us an outline for that prayer for patience in Colossians 1:9–12. It even includes those Greek words shared in the previous blog hupoménō and makrothumía.
“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, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance (hupoménō) and patience (makrothumía) with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light”
(Colossians 1:9-12 ESV).
Filled, strengthened, and thanksgiving are the three prayer points Paul prayed over the Colossians. They will serve as our guide.
I am to pray:
• that you are filled with the knowledge of His will by praying James 1:5 and 3:15, 17 over you. For in that spiritual wisdom and understanding you will walk pleasingly before the Lord, bearing fruit and increasing in knowledge.
• strength over you through His power and according to His glorious might—endurance does not come by us; rather, it proceeds from the power of God which He freely gives. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 ESV). But there is a catch: the endurance and patience are to be accomplished in joy! My prayer for you is for joy in any circumstance. “If joy is not rooted in the soil of suffering, it is shallow” (Moule).
• with thanksgiving for your salvation and for the inheritance “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4 KJV).
