Happy Tuesday! In lieu of a new study, today we’re just doing a portion of Scripture so we can pray.
This is from Colossians 3:1-16 NIV.
Before we start, just a quick prayer.
Lord Jesus, I’m asking for You to lead us as we turn these 16 verses into prayer. Keep us faithful to Your will and Your Word and guide us to learn this most important of skills. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Repeated instruction, did you see it? This is not just how to live, but how to pray too. Focus. It’s about focus. Christ is far above us yet also within us, so focus on Him and the world fades away.
It’s that song… Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His Wonderful Face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Let’s take a short detour to why.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
“When Christ, who is your life,” Is He? Oh please yes. When he appears, and He will appear, then so will you. Life is only in Him. So if your life is in Him or if you want it in Him, then do this:
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
When you choose Jesus, your life becomes new. With Him it is possible to rid ourselves of all those horrible things. It’s about focus. Faith and focus.
Ever want a Therefore more? And this is where we learn to pray.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
You are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.
As such, clothe yourselves, not work toward, not beg for, not count on someone to give you, all of it is already yours in Christ. Clothe yourselves with… this is how I pray for this.
Lord Jesus, in all the humility I have, I’m asking for You, to clothe me in yourself: Your compassion, Your kindness, Your gentleness and Your patience. Lord I want to lay my life down and have You live through me.
Keep going…
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Bear with each other.
Forgive if you have a grievance against someone.
Forgive as He, our Lord, forgave you.
Lord, envelop me in Love.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Please, Lord, I want to lay it all down, all my worries, all my concerns, all my troubles, all my plans and ask for Your peace to rule in my heart and my lips to pour forth thanks. Because I know, You running it all makes me so thankful. It takes it all out of my hands where it shouldn’t be in the first place and sets my whole world where it needs to be, under Your rule.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
There’s joy in the house of the Lord. And we shout Your praise.
Whatever you do. Whatever you do.
Oh Lord, let everything I do this day, these moments be in Your name as I thank You for every single word. In your holy name, I pray.