I saw this beautiful grey heron on my nature walk today. I’ve never seen one like it.

While being imprisoned in Rome, Paul told the Colossians, in his letter to them, that whenever he prayed for them he was always thankful to God. For just as with the Ephesians and the Philippians, they were his partners in the gospel and he was overjoyed that they had a love for all the saints just as he had.

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints  (Colossians 1:3-4).

It is apparent by this letter that Paul did not have a direct part in the conversion of the Colossians. His comrade Epaphras led them to Christ, and he brought news to him of how they were growing in the Lord and in love for the saints. For this reason, Paul declared that he has not stopped praying for them.

Now listen to this beautiful prayer. It flows so logically and gracefully from Paul’s heart—a heart full of the knowledge and grace of God.

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light  (Colossians 1:9-13).

We may observe that He prayed, first of all, that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding—that the Holy Spirit in them would teach them the will of God.

Secondly, he prayed that with this spiritual understanding they might live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way.

Here are some of the ways Paul points out in his prayer (above) that they would please the Lord: (1) by their good works, (2) by growing in the knowledge of God, (3) by being strong in endurance and patience (strengthened by the power of the Lord), and (4) by having an attitude of joyful thanks to God, who has qualified them for eternal life.