Category: purpose

Strengthened for Joy

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I don’t know about you, but I often feel weak. Life is filled with challenges (I think I may be sounding like a broken record – if there was sound to writing). Some days those challenges become overwhelming. Have you ever quit? I have.

When we feel weak, joy and thankfulness can be hard to come by. When I find it hard to be joyful or thankful I start with what verses 13-14 tell us. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” God’s undeserved gift is easy to be thankful for.

Today’s verses talk about being strengthened. We need God’s strength to have endurance to make it through the challenges. God knew there would be many and so he sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Here is another reason to be joyfully thankful.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the strength that You give. Please help us to look to You for the endurance only You can provide. Please help us to be joyfully thankful. We know You give good gifts.

I praise this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Praying to Grow

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Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ have the opportunity to grow and mature. I appreciate Paul’s statement in verse 9 that he and Timothy are consistently praying for the believers in Colossae. Pray should be step number one in our spiritual maturity. We should pray to be “filled with the knowledge of His will” for ourselves and others. Then, we need to seek knowledge, wisdom and spiritual understanding.

The purpose? To “walk worthy of the Lord.” He is worthy to be pleased and we get to grow by “bearing fruit in every good work”. There is no greater purpose.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving the gift of prayer. Please help us to look to the knowledge and wisdom You have given. Please guide us to the greatest purpose of bearing fruit to please You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Worthy and Worthwhile

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We live in a world who wants worth to be whatever we want it to be. The truth is our value is because we are made in the image of God. There is no greater worth that people can know.

I typically write this blog for people who have a personal relationship with God. I wonder if anyone reads who doesn’t know what it is like to know who God really is. There are many ways to learn about God – there is only one to know Him personally. If you want to learn more start reading the book of Mark in the Bible. See who Jesus is. He can be trusted – the Bible can be trusted. You will learn the truth. If something is confusing ask God to help and find a church that can teach you the Bible. I can assure you that the greatest joy you can find is knowing who God really is.

Dear Heavenly Father, I’m not sure who will read this post or what they will do with this. I pray that someone will choose to find out Who You are. Please help me to share the truth of the gospel with others including reminding those who know You to continue to trust in You each day.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Imitate and Worship

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This verse reminds us of some very important truths. People often imitate those they love, respect and/or worship. Believers are to imitate God. We have many examples to follow in the Bible. Jesus is the best example, the perfect example. Walking in love is a “sacrificial and fragrant offering to God”. There is no greater goal in life.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to imitate Your perfect example. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to “love us and give Himself for us.” We acknowledge this incomprehensible gift.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

It Is Too Easy to Faint

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I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I have given up more times than I can count. I am thankful God doesn’t give up. God gives us what we need to know in His word about how to do good and not grow weary.

I could write this blog for 100 years and not come close to covering what the Bible says. My hope is to encourage my readers to go to the Bible. We should spend our lives reading and studying what God has given. Not just a simple reading, but a prayerful consideration of the depths of knowledge available to us.

Dear Heavenly Father, we are weak and need the strength You provide to keep doing good in our weariness. We are tired and faint so easily. Please help us to live according to the strength You provide through the encouragement and commands in Your word.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

All Sufficient

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I like the word sufficient. It sounds so grand. I chuckled when I looked it up in the dictionary. I saw adequate and enough in the definition. Those are such ordinary words. While I sometimes prefer a more exciting concept, I have learned that we do most of our living in the ordinary. Words like adequate and enough are good. They provide what is needed.

God gives grace so we have enough to abound in good works. God is amazing!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us enough to live an abundance of good works. Your provision is a blessing. Please help us to watch for what You want to give instead of seeking what You do not desire.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Giving Incomprehensible Love

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This verse is a bit daunting to me. Trying to love as God loves is a tall order. I am glad that God tells us how. John 15 tells me that I need to abide in God to be able to obey His commands. I know God’s Word is powerful, but I am still often amazed at what God gives.

I pray you have a love for God’s Word and the desire to read and study as much as possible. We cannot obey God’s commands without consistently abiding in Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible. Thank You for the guidance from Your words to us. Please help us to remember that we can’t love others appropriately without abiding in You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

My Identity or God’s?

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This year I have been talking about personal identity. We have so much confusion in our culture today. I want to direct my reader’s thinking towards what God says. In this passage the apostle Paul talks about some of his experiences with the Ephesian believers. While Paul did many things, in verse 24 he directs the reader’s attention to the Lord. Paul considered his life to be in last place and service to Jesus to be first.

Our culture pushes a “me first” identity. Sadly as believers we sometimes choose this thinking. We need to remember that me, myself and I should be in last place. Our energy should be more focused on the things of the Lord. How do we do that? Study God’s Word, pray and spend time with people who will pray with you and direct your thinking to God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us examples like Paul who had proper priorities. Please help us to follow his example and make our lives about You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.