I will be out of the office (at work and at home) from Thursday, February 26 through Monday, March 2. If there is anything you might need while I am away, please have a little chat with God. He has all the answers.

Seriously, I will be gone and posting some older blog pieces, but regardless of where I am or what I’m doing, I know that God is with me and is “able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) I pray that you know this as well.

Have a great weekend! See you again on Tuesday.

Lessons from Colossians – Part 3

As I continue to learn small bits of information from the Book of Colossians, I share them with you. Some may seem obvious, while others are not. None the less, there are lessons, encouragement and life-style pointers for us to glean from this book.

In the first chapter, Paul tells the Colossian Church that he has been praying for them. His prayers included asking God to fill this group of believers with the knowledge of His will through spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).

Wouldn’t this be a wonderful prayer for us to pray for the believers in our own lives? Spiritual growth and development has certainly been on the top of my priority list since I started this blog.

As a matter of fact, I had a conversation with my youngest brother about this topic last spring. We were discussing my next blog post and how it naturally developed into a spiritual development teaching point, but I felt I had been pushing that a lot with my posts so wanted to go a different direction.

In looking back on that conversation I wonder what I was thinking. Paul stressed spiritual growth and development in each of his letters. It is important. It is what we are to do. There never comes a point in our lives where we stop growing spiritually. So this passage becomes all the more important because of the importance of spiritual growth in our lives.

And what better way to help in this process than through prayer. Prayer for others and for myself. This verse will be tucked away for future use.

Paul goes on to say that he was praying this particular prayer for a several reasons. These are listed in Lessons from Colossians – Part 1. You can check those out or read through Colossians 1:10-14 to find them for yourself.

But Paul doesn’t leave them hanging without more detail on how to live this worthy life. In Colossians 3, Paul shares his rules for holy living. In this chapter, Paul stresses the importance of living with our hearts and minds set on things above (Colossians 3:1-2).

That isn’t as easy as it sounds is it? I know. My heart is deceitful. It causes my emotions to get out of control. I feel things I shouldn’t. And during those times are when I am most at risk of falling into sin. When my heart is not set on Jesus, who is my life (Colossians 3:4).

And my mind. Oh my. It wanders all over the place. Sometimes into places it shouldn’t, but mostly just thinking of unimportant things. Things that don’t really matter at all. When my mind is not set on Jesus, who is my life, it will get me into trouble.

And the evil one knows exactly how to lead me astray. He will do the same to you if we are not focused on Jesus.

Paul knew we would need encouragement in this area of our lives, so he offered other passages to help us.

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:10 – NIV)

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6 – NIV)

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:18 – NIV)

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 – NIV)

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 – NIV)

And Peter jumped in on this topic as well in 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV). “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled.”

There are plenty more, but you can understand the importance Paul placed on our hearts and minds being set on Jesus.

Today, let’s strive to keep our hearts and minds set on things above. To see our world and the people around us through Jesus’ eyes. To have His heart. And above all, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 – NIV)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna