How to Know God's Will for Your LifeSample

The Eyes of the Heart

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays that God will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ so that the eyes of our hearts may be opened (Ephesians 1:17). To the Colossians, he prays something similar, this time for spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).

In both passages, the outcome is stated on a grand scale—eternal hope, God’s inheritance, the resurrection power of Christ, the knowledge of God, deliverance from the kingdom of darkness and so on. I would love us to dwell on these marvellous provisions right here and now, but this has been done elsewhere (see the YouVersion Bible Plan called The Unsearchable Riches of Christ).

Today, I want to note just one aspect in particular: that they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (Colossians 1:9).

In order to attain this, Paul prays that we will have a spirit of wisdom, revelation and understanding. These three words are important New Testament terms. Wisdom means acting in a godly way; revelation means an unveiling or an opening up; understanding is comprehending. All three are described here as spiritual, that is stemming from the spirit. In the case of ‘revelation,’ this is obviously the case. It means insight from outside ourselves.

Working with our human spirit, the Holy Spirit is the source of knowing the will of God. In fact, not just knowing the will of God, but being filled with such knowing.

It is easy for us nowadays to trivialise this—to apply it to issues like trying to decide which text to send or which TV show to watch. Surely these are matters we can be relied on to work out for ourselves. Paul’s prayer is much more grand.

The early believers, who only had access to one or two gospels or apostolic letters, needed such wisdom to comprehend the gospel message, the whole revelation of the kingdom of God and the glorious church. The outcome would be a sense of divine discovery, of explosive insight, of heaven on earth!

Today, God offers us such brilliant eye-opening disclosure in two ways, first through the teaching now recorded in the New Testament and second through the eyes of our hearts so when we read it, we see more than just words on the page—we see the very purpose of God.

How important it is then, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. To pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Then when it is time to make decisions, the Holy Spirit will guide us, perhaps just through the pages of Scripture, or perhaps through divine inner conviction. Being so led by the Spirit, we will make choices that are consistent with God’s will.

What next?

·Carefully re-read Colossians 1:9-14. Make a list of the intended outcomes that Paul mentions as stemming from his prayers.

·Memorise (with the reference) just the second part of verse 9. Then pray Paul’s prayer in verses 9 and 10 for yourself.