Pray that we would walk according to this knowledge to please the Lord Jesus Christ.

We come to the purpose for Paul’s prayer in Col 1:10, “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,” which, if we do, we will be “fully pleasing to Him.”

The “Lord” is the Lord Jesus Christ, as indicated before and after this instance (cf. Col 1:2; 2:6). By knowing and properly understanding the will of the Father, we will walk worthy of Christ and please Him. But what exactly does that look like?

Thankfully, Paul gives us four phrases that open up what it means to walk in a manner worthy of Christ and to be fully pleasing to Him. 

First, we please Christ by “bearing fruit in every good work” (Col 1:10). Guided by the Spirit according to the knowledge of the Father’s will, we please Christ by doing good. 

Second, we please Christ by “increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). Not only do we know what is necessary for our salvation in Christ, but we please Christ by increasing in this knowledge. We should faithfully assemble with our local church to hear the Word read, taught, and preached. We should study it on our own. We should pray that God would help us towards this end in order to be pleasing to Christ.

Third, we please Christ when we are “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). This power, strength, and might come to us by the grace of the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit as we live out who we are in Christ (Col 1:29; Eph 3:16; 2 Tim 1:9). We should pray that God would grant such power (cf. Eph 3:14–19). 

Fourth, we please Christ when we “with joy” are “giving thanks to the Father” (Col 1:11–12). The reason for such thanks is because the Father has prepared an inheritance for us in heaven, having redeemed us from darkness and having transferred us in the kingdom of His Son (Col 1:13–14). We should give thanks to God in our prayers for our salvation.

So how should we pray? 

From this passage, we should pray to know the Father’s will for us in Christ, to have illumination by the Spirit to know this will as we ought, and to apply what we know to our daily walk with Christ. This walk pleases Christ when we bear fruit, increase in the knowledge of God, live by His strength, and give Him thanks for our salvation. May God help us to walk worthy of our Lord, and may we pray for our fellow Christians to do the same.