“For this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Col. 1:9-14 KJV
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. 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, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14 ESV
Please read the verses above. Same verses. Different versions. The apostles prayed for believers in Christ to know God’s will, to live to please God, and to ENDURE and BE PATIENT in the process, per the ESV. Or, for PATIENCE and LONGSUFFERING in the KJV. Not only to know God’s will. Not only to do God’s will. To ENDURE. To PERSEVERE. To LAST. To NOT GIVE UP. To go through the SUFFERING that comes with being PATIENT. To BEAR FRUIT for God. Of “GOOD WORK”. PATIENTLY. LASTINGLY. Even through the SUFFERING when our flesh doesn’t get its way. Even when life hurts. To live for Christ! Is this all? NO! With JOY. And THANKSGIVING! HOW? Doesn’t this seem incredibly hard if not impossible? It does to me! “STRENGTHENED WITH ALL POWER ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS MIGHT”. By the Holy Spirit! By God’s strength! God makes us able to do what He’s called us to do! God wants His followers to live a “LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD”. A life that reflects Christ and glorifies God! That makes Him proud! That brings Him pleasure! All this is wrapped into one big PRAYER! Should we not pray for this for ourselves and others, and aspire to live in this manner? Yes! (upper case letters added)