When we consider what a process for a redo for godliness would look like, we should look at Colossians 1: 11 to get an idea of what that would look like. This daily devotional looks at the role that prayer plays in strengthening our relationship with God and producing patience and joy.
Nuggets
- God wants us to talk to Him to take the focus off this world and put it on Him.
- God will strengthen us through His power.
- Getting the strength produces endurance and patience.
- When we become like God, we will be filled with joy.
To read devotions in the Redo for Godliness series, click the appropriate button below.
I wrote the bulk of this devotion, and then came back to write the intro. It hit me that this verse sums up what God wants us to do in our redo for godliness: pray, grow, produce.
Let’s dig in.
Talking to God
“We also pray …” (Col. 1: 11 NLT)
God wants us to talk to Him take the focus off this world and put it on Him.
One way we do that is through prayer. Prayer is a two-way communication with God in which we pour out our soul to Him.
What is the saying, be careful what you pray for? Don’t we think that saying is kind of suspect at times?
I mean, sometimes I get the impression that we think all prayers are good. Just think about it.
We think any communication is good communication, right?
No.
We have to pray submissively. We have to pray constantly. We have to pray in His Will.
Instead, we pray for intellectual smarts. We pray for health. We pray for all this world can give us.
Morison wrote that Paul was talking about everything spiritual here. The power was spiritual.
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We have to keep our focus on God and His Will.
Why Do We Need Strength?
“… that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power …” (Col. 1: 11 NLT)
God will strengthen us through His power.
Naw, Paul wasn’t talking squats, deadlifts, and push-ups. (Thank You, sweet Jesus, for small things.) That meant the strength was spiritual.
Morison wrote, “Paul prayed that they might be strengthened in their ethical principles, so that they might be stronger in their faith, hope, and love.” He knew that this is what they — and us — needed.
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Instead of ethical principles, we’ve been looking more at morals and spiritual graces. Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
Think of it. Strengthened in our ethical principles. Ethical principles — our social behavior.
Our social behavior is how we interact with others. What is that governed by? Our character.
We are to be growing our character — our thoughts, feelings, and actions all added together — to be more like God’s character. That is our redo for godliness.
That is what Paul is praying to be strengthened. He knew our character needed strengthened, and that we couldn’t strengthen it on our own. We can’t do our redo on our own.
We can only accomplish our redo through Christ. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4: 13 KJV).
Right now, the all things is jumping out at me. I need strength for the uncertainty of getting my medicine up to cruising speed to deal with the seizures. The independent me that says what-if-I-don’t-get-to-drive-again? needs a lot of strength.
Both those are little things. Big things are am I living in God’s Will? Am I doing what He wants? Do I have His heart?
Davenant pointed out Paul said that we are strengthened with all of God’s power. It is needed.
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We are in a fight that is much bigger than us. This was detailed in a different letter. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens” (Eph. 6: 12 CSB).
Spence called it. Mankind is weak. We aren’t born strong. If we don’t eat right and train our bodies, we don’t get physical strength.
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How many of us truly admit we are weak? Especially intellectually weak?
Don’t we pull out our equivalents of the Warrior Princess bracelet and fake it until we make it?
God can’t help us until we admit we need His help.
Spence said that it is only when we receive God’s power do we realize how weak we are. That explains many of the challenges we face when witnessing.
If those we witness to think they are as strong as if not stronger than God, they are not going to see their need for God. It is only in seeing our weakness can we see our need for God.
That insight is what unleashes the power of God. It comes from God on His signal.
The Product of Strength
“… so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. …” (Col. 1: 11 NLT)
Getting the strength produces endurance and patience.
Ooo, baby. Do we need patience! We’ve linked patience and endurance in the past.
Patience is a steadfast endurance in opposition without losing a positive attitude. Tertullian wrote, “Patience is the superintendent of all the affairs of God, and without it it is not possible to execute His commands or to wait for His promises.” Trench explained that long-suffering applies to people and patience applies to things.
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There is an argument for the position that it really isn’t patience if it isn’t hooked with endurance.
We’ve talked all of this before.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Oh, hold the phones!
Spence said we need the strength because we will suffer. Remember, suffering is the third prong of sanctification.
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What this is all about is about. We are to become like God.
The Ultimate Benefit
“… May you be filled with joy” (Col. 1: 11 NLT)
When we become like God, we will be filled with joy.
Disciples are called to rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4: 4 KJV).
God wants us to be happy in all circumstances. We can because we know that “… we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8: 28 KJV).
Making the Connections
Spencer brought up a good point. We have a tendency to lump power and glory together.
Power and glory really aren’t the same. Spencer wrote, “Power is an essential attribute of the Divine glory.” I can see that since power is a significant ability, a greatness.
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We’ve said glory expresses the splendor representing the attributes of God resulting from the authority of God. To me, this is more of an aura, a feeling.
Well, okay. Feeling of greatness.
How Do We Apply This?
• Pray. Pray again. Pray some more.
• Pray submissively.
• Pray to find a God’s Will, not to try to get God to do our will.
• Don’t be easily provoked.
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Father God. Thank You that You have given us directions in Your Word on how to become more like You. More than that, You will be with us every step of the way, guiding us over the Sanctification Road. Help us to keep our eyes fixed solely on You. Amen.
What do you think?
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