Powerful protective petitions

Paul is agonising on behalf of the Colossians and others, and doing so with a specific goal. He prays, writes, ministers, with a particular aim focused on the heart, the centre of the personality, the seat of thought, deliberation, affection, the core of our inner being.

Paul has three desires for Christian hearts: that they may be strong, and so he calls them to his side by word and example in the face of much opposition; that they may be united, welded tightly together by love; that they may be assured, having the fixed persuasion that they comprehend the truth, and that it is the truth which you comprehend.

We should recognise the value of possessing such hearts, the danger of neglecting such hearts, and the necessity of pleading for such hearts.