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To overflow with thankfulness.… (devo reflection)

Colossians 2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ….

Lord, help us to “be encouraged in heart and united in love” so that we can know You more, know You better, continue to live in You.

Colossians 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him….

Lord, Help us to sink our roots into You, to nourish ourselves in You alone. Help us to be strengthened in faith and to overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:7 …rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Lord, This world tries to distract us from You, to convince us that this world can nurture and sustain us. It cannot, Lord. The world will leave us hungry, empty, searching. Only You can nurture and sustain us. Only You can give us life. Help us to choose You. Always. Amen.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Have a blessed day.

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Amazed and humbled…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

For in Him all things were created. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Through Him we are reconciled to Himself. I was created IN Christ, BY Christ, and THROUGH Christ. It is BECAUSE OF Christ that I hold together and that I am reconciled to Him.

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

When I sit with the truth of these verses, I am truly amazed and humbled. I owe everything I am, everything I have, to Christ. He loves me deeply, fiercely, completely, not for anything I can do for Him but simply because I am His and He is mine.

Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him….

Precious Savior, “Thank You” feels wholly inadequate to express my love and gratitude for all You are to me and all You’ve done for me. Help me to live fully as Your deeply loved child and to show others Your all-encompassing love. Amen.

Colossians 1:20 …and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Have a blessed day.

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The Lord is near…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

What strikes me in this passage is that Paul is encouraging them to rejoice in the Lord always and is modeling this attitude of rejoicing for them while he is in prison. There’s no irony in his words. He doesn’t say he’ll rejoice when he is released. There’s only joy and encouragement in the Lord.

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

And how is it that he can rejoice, even in his present circumstances? How is it that he can be anxious for nothing, pray about everything, be thankful? Because the Lord is near.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Lord, Forgive me when I grump and complain. Thank You for the example of Paul’s attitude of rejoicing in and prayers and petitions to You in all circumstances. Help me to be mindful always that You are near. Wrap me in Your peace. Amen.

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

Have a blessed day.

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I want to know Christ…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

The hubs and I have been married for 25 years, together for 26, and I’m still learning about him—who he is, what he values, how he changes. Because I love him, I seek to know him better, even as we both grow and change through this life.

Philippians 3:8a What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things….

My relationship with Christ should have a similar dynamic. Christ doesn’t change, but I do, and I need to continuously seek to know Him more, know Him better, as I learn and grow. That’s not impossible, but it does take time, effort, and intention.

Philippians 3:8b-9a …I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him…

Lord, This world offers lots of shiny, beautiful distractions, but I don’t want this world. I want You. I want to know You more, better, every single day. Help me be intentional in my pursuit of You. Amen.

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ….

Have a blessed day. I

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Less focused on myself…. (devo reflection)

Philippians 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

I admire Paul’s attitude in this section for a host of reasons. For one, in the verses just before these, he is rejoicing in all the good (the spread of the gospel) that God has brought from his imprisonment. Talk about beauty from ashes.

Philippians 1:16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

For another, he talks about all those spreading the Good News regardless of motive. Some were rejoicing in Paul’s imprisonment because they could be seen as more than or better than Paul. Instead of being angry or jealous about their motives, Paul rejoices that they are preaching Christ.

Philippians 1:17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

Lord, in this day and age we aren’t geared to react as Paul did—rejoicing in the preaching of Your word, regardless of motives. Help me to be more like that, Lord—more focused on You and Your word. Less focused on myself, less focused on the motives of others. Amen.

Philippians 1:18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice….

Have a blessed day.

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Allowing myself God’s grace…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Yesterday was not a stellar day. In the realm of being a good wife, mother, Christian, I feel I failed pretty miserably. Looking back at the fruits of the spirit in Galatians, I don’t think I embodied any of them.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

My caustic inner critic had me awake much of the night, replaying all my failures. But Ephesians 6:10 reminds me to be strong in the Lord, not in my oft ridiculous humanity. It’s not about me—my strength, my power, my grace. It is, it should be, all about my Savior.

Ephesians 6:23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, Yesterday was a Really. Bad. Day. Forgive me. Help those whom I love deeply forgive me. Help me to forgive myself. I love You with an undying love, Lord. Help me to allow myself Your grace. Amen.

Ephesians 6:24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Have a blessed day.

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A heart for Jesus and His people…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children….

For me, this chapter is a vivid reminder that Paul’s letters are just that—letters to specific groups of people struggling with specific issues in a specific time. We can learn a lot about the cultural mores of the time from these letters. For me, Paul’s legalistic rhetoric also belies his past as a Pharisee.

Ephesians 5:2 …and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 13:34 sums up Jesus’s biblical ideology pretty succinctly: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Love God. Love others. Period. Paul had a heart for Jesus and His people. The tone of Paul’s letters seems to indicate that he felt the faithful in Ephesus needed more structure as they grew in faith.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Lord, Your command seems at times deceptively simply: Love God; love others. Thank You for those who try to provide extra structure for those who are struggling in their faith, yet help us never lose sight of the simple truth of Your words: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Amen.

Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Have a blessed day.

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Growth, not perfection…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

If I were grading myself on the basis of these verses, I would not score very well. I fail, daily, in Every. Single. Category. But I sincerely think that God doesn’t expect perfection. He KNOWS me, knows my faults and shortcomings, knows my struggles. He doesn’t expect perfection, He expects growth.

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Commentary says God not only wants us to grow old in Him. He also wants us to grow more mature in Him, getting just a little bit better, stronger, more mature in Christ every day. With effort and attention, I think I can do that.

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Dear Lord, Being perfect as You are perfect seems absolutely out of my abilities. Thank You for the understanding that You don’t expect perfection, You expect growth, maturity. Help me grow and mature in You a little more each day. Amen.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Have a blessed day.

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The love of Christ…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being….

This prayer from Paul, found in verses 16-19, is beautiful. He prays that through Christ’s power, our inner being will be strengthened by His Holy Spirit, so that Christ is and remains firmly in our hearts, established and rooted there through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:17 …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love….

He prays that because we have such a firm foundation in Him, that we may more fully understand how all encompassing is His love, more fully understand that His love is so grand, so amazing that it surpasses anything we can truly comprehend, and he prays that even though Christ’s love surpasses our knowledge, that we may be filled with that love, filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:18 …may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ….

Lord, Thank You for Your great love of us. Thank You for people like Paul, who went to great lengths to ensure everyone had access to the Good News of Christ. Help me to live Paul’s prayer and to share its truth, Your truth and love, with everyone I encounter today. Amen.

Ephesians 3:19 …and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Have a blessed day.

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Because of his great love for us…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

When thinking about God’s undeserved grace, I remember an incident from when my boys were little. Many of the specifics had faded: We had planned some treat for them for the afternoon, but their behavior had been less than ideal that morning. I remember distinctly saying to the hubs, “These boys do NOT deserve….”

Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Even at the time, I remember thinking how ironic my words were, how much I didn’t, don’t, deserve God’s grace but receive it lavishly nonetheless. I have no memory of whether the boys got their treat that day, but I always think of that incident when I think how undeserving I am of God’s grace, yet He lavishes it upon me regardless.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Lord, Thank You for Your all-encompassing grace. Help me to extend that same grace to all I encounter. I don’t deserve it, I can’t earn it, but I am eternally grateful for it. Thank You. Amen.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Have a blessed day.