For this cause we…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 (Colossians 1:9).

 

The Spirit, through the apostle Paul, prayed an insightful prayer for the Christians in Colossae, that they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. It lets us know that there’s such a thing as spiritual understanding, just as there’s a natural understanding.

 

It takes the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and give you spiritual understanding. He unveils mysteries and secrets of the Kingdom to you. He’s the Spirit of truth, and part of His ministry in your life is the unveiling of truth. It brings to mind another prayer of the Spirit through Paul in Ephesians 1:17 AMPC: “For I always pray to God…

That He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him.”

Without the understanding and insight that the Spirit gives, your interpretation of life would be ordinary, mundane, and useless. It will be difficult to grasp spiritual realities.

 

Consider the disciples of Jesus, for example; though they had been with the Master, they didn’t understand many things that He taught them, because they hadn’t received the Holy Spirit. When He spoke of His death, burial, and resurrection, they grappled with it, because they lacked spiritual insight and understanding at the time.

 

That’s how come even after He rose from the dead, some of them still doubted. But after His resurrection, when He came among them, the Bible says “…he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). What He did was to open their understanding by the Holy Spirit so they could receive and comprehend spiritual realities. From then on, they had spiritual insight; they understood the words of Jesus.

 

When the Holy Spirit comes into your life, He gives you understanding so you’re no longer in the dark about God’s Word, life, or anything. Through that insight and understanding, you know the paths of life that bring success, joy, victory, and prosperity; you’re led in wisdom, glory, and righteousness. Hallelujah!

 

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months (James 5:16-17). Some people pray absent-mindedly, without their emotions, and it’s one of the reasons their prayers are ineffective.

 

Notice our opening scripture; it talks about Elijah praying in a heartfelt, emotive manner; he was passionate.

 

Not many realize that it’s okay to get emotional with the Lord, because He’s got emotions too. The Bible says, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh…” (Psalm 2:4).

 

Laughter is an emotion. Joy is an emotion, and God expresses His joy (Zephaniah 3:17). Therefore, in prayer, it’s okay to focus your mind on Him and express your love lavishly and passionately.

 

When you get your emotions involved in prayer, your spirit is conditioned in a way that’s receptive to the Holy Spirit. At that moment, your mind is channelled to your purpose of prayer and attentive. Recall that the Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Learn to stay your mind and emotions on the Lord in prayer!

 

If, while you’re praying, your mind strays to other thoughts, consciously get it back to focus on the Lord and the subject matter. On the other hand, if you’re praying in tongues or praying without a particular subject, you can still keep your mind and emotions on the Lord and let your spirit or the Holy Spirit bring forth words or thoughts to your consciousness at that time.

 

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2).

The highest potential of human nature isn’t in the outward man, but in the inward man, the human spirit.

 

This is why the premium must be on the education of your spirit. The best education in the world is an attempt to inform, refine, and develop the mind through the senses of the outward man.

However, it’s the education of the inward man, the human spirit, that ultimately gives light and wisdom, and it’s only achievable through receiving and meditating on the Word of God.

 

God’s Word helps you discover the real you and improves the quality of your life from within. Read our opening verse again and notice that it talks about the spiritual education of the inward man: “…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind .”

Now, in education, there’s practice and exercise. Thus, in educating your inward man, you practise the Word; you practise living, seeing, and relating from your spirit. You refuse to relate to things from a natural or physical standpoint.

 

Remember part of what we read: “…be not conformed to this world…” ; meaning you shouldn’t live like them, or think like them, or see from their perspective. Instead, be transfigured and translated by the renewing of your mind; by feeding and nurturing your spirit with the Word, you change the way you think.

 

For example, hitherto you thought you were a failure, but now you think differently, because the Word says you’re a success. You thought you were a mere sinner, failing to please the Lord, but now you think and see yourself as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You have a new mind-set—the mind-set of the righteous, which indeed is a result of the education of the inward man.