Category: purpose

Ask with Effort

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Today’s verse gives us 3 actions and 3 results. The actions are ask, seek and knock. Asking is fairly easy, but the word seek requires more effort. God doesn’t just give us good gifts. He asks us to work. The beauty of this passage is that God is willing to reward that work. The Bible doesn’t give us all the specifics of what God will do, but I believe we can see God’s hand if we watch.

So take time to ask, seek and knock. The results are from God. What could be better?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the guidelines You have given in Your Word. Please help us to put the effort into asking, seeking and knocking. Thank you for providing the results for us.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

I Give Up!

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Have you ever given up? I have. So many things can pile up and we don’t know what to do. The Bible reminds us that we have a reason to continue. “We will reap if we do not give up.”

I know life is tough, but God is big. He gives us what we need (2 Peter 1:3). We must keep going back to God to ask for help. Don’t forget – God is always there. He is ready and willing to help us continue doing good.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the reminders of why we need to continue doing good. Thank You for being available and giving us help. Please help us to humble ourselves to ask for help often.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

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.