“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father…” — Colossians 1:9b-12a
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To perform well in any endeavor, you must have the right mindset. If I don’t think I can get Juan Soto or Aaron Judge out with my mix of pitches, I’m probably going to struggle against them. The way we think impacts how we’ll act.
Paul wanted the people to have the right mindset as they walked through life with Jesus. Paul understood that a right mindset begins with understanding God has made everyone for a unique purpose. As we study and apply His Word in our lives, our desires change and we want to honor Him with everything we do. The Holy Spirit increases our knowledge of God and we “bear fruit” by looking to meet the needs of others, as Jesus would, with perseverance and patience. The result of this process is a joyful spirit that expresses its thankfulness to the Father for all He’s provided, no matter what circumstances we are currently facing.
Throughout Paul’s writings, we read many prayers he prayed over individuals or a body of believers in different locations. His prayer in Colossians 1:9-12 (above) has greatly impacted my life for more than 40 years. Consider memorizing these verses and praying them over your life, and see what God will do to transform your mindset.
— Mickey Weston, Chicago White Sox chaplain
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