“For this reason we also since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you…” Colossians 1:9
Lessons in Prayer
Part Two
Yesterday, I spoke of how deeply Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-11 impacted me. These are the bullet points:
* That we would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
* That we would walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.
* That we would be fruitful in every good work.
* That we would increase in the knowledge of God.
* That we would be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power for all patience and longsuffering with joy.
* That we would give thanks to the Father.
God then began to demonstrate to me in a simple, real life experience how this can come into play. I had errands to run that day and things to do, such as working out at the gym and going to buy a new pair of running shoes. I threw my old shoes in the car as I planned on going to the shoe store after my time at the gym. Old shoes are recycled there and given to those in need. And so my morning began in the continuing rain of past days, but I was determined to carry on rain or shine!
At the gym I took the treadmill at the end next to a large plate glass window. I noticed a young man leaning against the building taking shelter from the rain under the overhang. He had no shoes or socks and his feet were wrapped in a sweatshirt. From time to time he would rub them for warmth. A pair of sodden shoes were thrown aside, too wet, too cold to wear. No socks were in sight. I continued to do my workout when God spoke to my heart. “You have a pair of shoes in your car.” In this clear thought God was showing me His will for me, and His will for this young man.
Immediately oppositional thoughts arose in my mind. What if they don’t fit? I don’t have any socks to give him. Is it safe to approach him? I continued my exercise routine. “The Dollar Tree is across the parking lot. Go buy socks.” God is very practical.
Then my bullet points arose in my mind. God had shown me His will and had even given me understanding in how to perform it. Knowing His will, I wanted to walk worthy of Him. I wanted to be fruitful in this simple act of kindness. As I obeyed, I felt my knowledge of Him increase as I knew I had heard His voice to me and I knew His heart just a little better. He strengthened me to do what I would not have done on my own and in this modest obedience I found such joy. My gratitude arose for the love of a God who cares about the needs of the downtrodden. And I myself was thankful for warm, dry socks and good shoes. I had taken these things for granted.
God’s Word had come alive for me. I did a simple thing. It wasn’t going to change the world, but it was huge in me to do the thing God had asked me to do, to be used of Him, for whatever He was working out in this man’s life and in mine. The heart of prayer had made all the difference.
“Father, getting to know You is the adventure of a lifetime. You bring meaning and significance to our dull, self-involved lives. I love how You love us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”