Why is it that we are stuck? Why do we have a hard time growing? Quite often the reason is fear. We do not grow because we are afraid. The gospel, when rightly understood, is a fear-killer. It proclaims God's grace, which means we don't need to be afraid of our past, and it proclaims the hope that we have from God, which means we don't need to be afraid of our future. And so Paul prays that we would be changed as we are filled with the knowledge of God's gracious and hope-bringing will.

Passage: Colossians 1:1-14