Faith is the bow, and strong desire fits to the string the arrow that is to be sent upward. No arrow may be shot toward heaven but that which came down from heaven. Christians take their arrows from God’s quiver, and when they shoot them they shoot them with this on their lips: “Do as you have said. Remember your word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope.”

So the successful prayer is the desire of a holy heart, sanctioned by the promise. True prayers are like those carrier pigeons that find their way so well. They cannot fail to go to heaven, for it is from heaven that they came; they are only going home.225

Paul’s primary petition was that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will. Paul used two key words, “fill” (plēroō) and “knowledge” (epignōsis, also used in v. 10 and 3:10). The first suggests a filling out to completeness, and the latter suggests a full, deep understanding. Such knowledge of God’s will does not come from a fleshly mind (which “puffs up,” 1 Cor. 8:1), but from the Holy Spirit who enlightens a believer’s inner person (1 Cor. 2:5–6, 13), and from the Word of God. God’s will, revealed in the Bible, is made known to believers by the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry

As one manifests the fruit of faith (cf. Matt. 7:16; Gal. 5:22–23), he grows in faith himself (cf. Eph. 4:13). He comes to a deeper “knowledge” (epignōsis; cf. Col. 1:9) of God. As Augustine put it, “Faith is understanding’s step, and understanding is faith’s reward.”

To this Paul added, through all spiritual wisdom (sophia; used six times in Col. 1:9, 28; 2:3, 23; 3:16; 4:5), that is, practical know-how which comes from God (James 1:5; 3:15), and understanding (synesei; also used in Col. 2:2), which speaks of clear analysis and decision-making in applying this knowledge to various problems

περιπατέω (peripateō). vb. to walk. Refers to the act of walking, and figuratively refers to actions.

This verb is used in the Gospels and Acts to refer to literal walking. It is used to describe the lame who are made to walk (peripateō; e.g., Matt 11:5; 9:5; 15:31; Acts 3:6–9; 14:8–10) and to describe Jesus walking (peripateō) on water (Matt 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–51; John 6:16–20). The letters of Paul use it figuratively to denote living in a certain manner; Paul exhorts his audience to live (peripateō) righteously. He uses it to refer to living (peripateō) properly in general (e.g., Rom 13:13; 1 Cor 7:17), but it is also attested in certain collocations such as walking (peripateō) in newness of life (Rom 6:4), in love (Rom 14:15), by faith (2 Cor 5:7), and in wisdom (Col 4:5).

Paul’s aim in this petition was practical: in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. A genuine knowledge of Christ reveals itself in transformed character (cf. Eph. 4:1; 1 Thes. 2:12), in Christlikeness. Axiōs, “worthy,” means “of equal weight.” Believers are to equal the Lord’s standards, to be holy as He is holy (cf. 1 Peter 1:15). The aim of believers in all their worthy conduct should be to please Him in every way, to anticipate and do His wishes in every aspect of life (cf. Eph. 5:10).

What the Colossians need above all is God’s own Spirit at work to turn the knowledge they can find in the Scriptures into true “wisdom” (applied knowledge; “wisdom that God imparts to those who are close to God”) and “understanding” (comprehension of God’s purposes; “understanding such as God grants to God’s own”).26