Revelation

From Jesus’ prayer for His followers in John chapter seventeen, to Paul’s many prayers recorded in his epistles, we can learn what things we too should prioritize in our prayer life.  One of my favorites of Paul’s prayers is found in the opening chapter of the book of Colossians.   Paul begins with “since we heard of your faith…”  then continues with “we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”.  Paul doesn’t focus his prayer on their temporal needs or comforts, but upon the “spiritual wisdom and understanding” they so needed. What he was praying for is that they would receive “revelation”.

Paul knew all about revelation. On his way to Damascus, the Lord appeared to him and changed the entire course of life through a "revelation". He opened Paul's eyes. Although Paul (Saul at the time) was a “Pharisee of Pharisees” with great knowledge of the Jewish law and superior dedication to those things he believed, he still lacked the “spiritual wisdom and understanding” that would come to characterize his faith and teaching.  Paul came to understood the essential importance of revelation.  We see this same emphasis in his prayers for the Ephesians where he likewise begins with “having heard of your faith”, and then prays for God to give them “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation” and that the “eyes of your heart may be enlightened”.

How much of your prayer life is devoted to asking the Lord for “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation”.  You can be sure that this is precisely what He wants for you.  In Jesus’ prayer in John mentioned above, this is what He is praying for regarding all of His followers. That they would “know Him”, having a revelation of His will and His love. When we pray for revelation, we are praying in agreement with Jesus, for it is His and the Father’s will to be known.

There is a wisdom of this world that is according to the natural mind. Paul writes “the world in its wisdom does not know God”.  However, the “spiritual wisdom” that God imparts to those who seek to truly know Him “reveals” both God and His will.  James says simply ‘you have not because you ask not”.   Jesus taught “which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Mt. 7:9-11).

Pray (ask) for the “spiritual wisdom and understanding” that the Lord so desperately wants to give you. Pray for revelation of those things that belong to the children of God but all to often are left unpursued. This is what the Paul would be praying for you today if you were under his spiritual care.   He would be praying that you would receive a “spiritual wake-up call” as he did, opening your eyes to the spiritual wisdom of who Jesus is and what His will is for your life.