Colossians 1:11

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,

-Colossians 1:11

Paul begins a slightly separate line of thinking in his prayers.  He began by praying for them to "be filled with the knowledge of his will", but now he begins to pray for other things.  He prays for strength for them.  Why does he pray for strength?  The purpose is so that they will have endurance and patience.  I guess this means that the type of strength that Paul is referring to has to do with helping them endure and have patience.  If Paul is asking for these purposes, then it makes me wonder what they need it for.  Perhaps they were up against a lot of persecution and hardships, which would require endurance and patience.  It also reminds me, yet again, about how interesting it is to notice what Paul asks for them in prayer.  He prays for their knowledge and wisdom and understanding, not for a change in their circumstances.  Even here in these few verses, he asks for their patience and endurance, which would help in light of their circumstances.  I guess they wouldn't need patience and endurance if they didn't have circumstances to face, but I guess that's not the way Paul thinks.  Perhaps this should help develop the way we pray and think too.  All too often I am praying for a change in circumstances, when maybe I should be praying for help in the midst of circumstances.