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Focused on Christ…. (Devo reflection)

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

This morning’s devo was about keeping our thoughts focused on Christ. These days—this time of year? This season of life?—I’m not doing so well with that. It’s definitely an area I need to surrender more fully to Him.

2 Corinthians 10:5 …take every thought captive to obey Christ….

When I allow my mind to drift toward the negative, when I don’t surrender those thoughts to Christ, when I allow myself to wallow in the negative….nothing true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, or commendable comes from that. Ever.

Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Lord, Thank You for reminding me of this issue. Help me to lay the negative, unproductive thoughts at Your feet so that I can be useful in Your service. Amen.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Have a blessed day.

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Strong roots in good soil…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

I am not a gardener, my thumbs are more brown than green, and yet, the image that comes to mind when I read the verses above is that of a plant. For a plant to thrive, it needs strong roots in good soil. My faith is equivalent to the roots of a plant. Jesus is my soil. Time, prayer, praise, trials–they all lead my faith roots to grow longer, stronger, deeper within the soil of Christ.

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.

“Overflowing with thankfulness” makes me think of blooms on a plant–the joy, the thankfulness,–overflowing, bursting from the inside out, sometimes a riot of color, sometimes a quiet little pop of joy, always a beautiful miracle, always a blessing.

Colossians 2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

Lord, Some days are just hard. Help me remember, even on the hard days, that I am rooted and built up in You, that I am strengthened in faith. Help me to always overflow with thankfulness–not because of my circumstances but because of Your great love, mercy, and compassion. I am not worthy, but I am so very thankful. Amen.

Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Have a blessed day.

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In thriving, we honor Him…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 1:9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

This morning I was looking for verses about finishing well. We are in the last weeks of the semester, but it feels like being on mile 10 of a half marathon (13.1 miles)–We’ve gone too far to stop, but the finish line is still so very far away. But my precious Savior knows my heart, He knows my need, and He sent me to Colossians to be strengthened this morning.

Colossians 1:10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

Living, working in survival mode does not honor God. He understands it. Just like with Doubting Thomas, He knows why we are struggling. He strives to give us what we need so that we can thrive because in thriving, we honor Him. Sometimes we have reasons for slipping into survival mode. Sometimes we are just exhausted and trying to keep our heads above water. Regardless of how we got to survival mode, God’s got us as we catch our breath. He wants us to live rich, full lives so that we can honor Him through them.

Colossians 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 

Lord, Forgive me that I have slipped into survival mode. Thank You for the reminder that that is not where you want me to stay. I can’t flourish here. I can’t honor You well here. Help me to move past survival. Give me knowledge and wisdom and understanding so that I can honor and please You well. And thank You for loving me enough to see me here, to hold me here, and to help me move past this place of just surviving. Amen.

Colossians 1:12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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The larger goal…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Today is the official end of my Spring Break. Tomorrow starts the final push to graduation. Teachers and students both are tired, and now we’ve had a taste of freedom, so these final weeks are hard. Ultimately, at this time of year, I have to remind myself that I do this job not to make it to summer vacation but because all those years ago, God called me to be a teacher.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Finishing the race doesn’t mean finishing the school year, or my career, it is about the larger goal. And while, as a public school teacher, I can’t preach my faith, God shows me His presence with me in the classroom every single day in myriad ways. And so it is with you. He’s with you, guiding you, incorporating you into His ministry wherever He has you currently planted. Trust Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Lord, Thank you for time to rest and renew. Thank you for unexpected opportunities and beach sunrises and time with family. As we head into this last eight weeks of the school year, give us all the strength and the will to finish strong. And help all of us, no matter what we do in life, to remember the larger end game–eternity with You. Thank You for the hope of eternity. Amen.

Philippians 3:14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Have a blessed day.

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Cultivating trust in God…. (devo reflection)

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect….

Today’s chapter talks about cultivating trust in God so that it becomes a strong habit and is there when we need it, when life makes no sense. He calls it developing “a faith where our first impulse in the face of life’s challenges is to trust God rather than figure out what God is doing so we can get a handle on life.”

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I’m absolutely guilty of getting stuck in the “why” of life. I ruminate, fret, worry, etc, trying to figure out what in the world God is up to, why things are happening the way they are. Eventually I make my way to, “I do not understand what You are up to, God, but I trust You.” Clearly, I need to focus on trust first and foremost. Jesus, Help me.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Lord, You are teaching me so much during this study about faith and trust. Thank You for the reminder that I need to respond to You in trust first and foremost. I do trust You, Lord. I do. Help me to trust You more. Amen.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Have a blessed day.

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God’s amazing grace…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 4:5a Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders…

I will not argue with someone about my faith, what I believe. I will not justify or defend my religious stance. I don’t feel I need to, but I also don’t feel equipped to, so I leave that to others who have the skill for it.

Colossians 4:5b …make the most of every opportunity.

What I do feel adept at is showing my daily struggle, showing the way God shows me love, compassion, and grace—again and again and again. My silence in my struggles breeds shame, but being honest about my fleshly humanity and God’s amazing grace at least helps others to see they are not alone in their slogging and that God’s grace is ever present.

Colossians 4:6a Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt….

Lord, I started this morning’s devo thinking You would have me write about areas where I feel weak—defending my faith. Thank You for turning the narrative on its head, for giving me the strength and skill to share my humanity to bring Your hope and comfort to others. All the glory is Yours, Lord. Always. Amen.

Colossians 4:6b …so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Have a blessed day.

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Loving others well…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Lord, It is so easy to let ourselves get caught up in earthly things, things that do not make a difference in eternity. Help us, all of us, stay focused on You, Your love, Your grace, and not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Lord, We don’t know what others are going through, how difficult their journeys are. Help us to be kind, compassionate, humble, gentle, and patient with others, walking with them in love and support instead of anger and judgment.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Lord, Not a single one of us has earned Your love, compassion, and grace, and yet You lavish us daily with all three. Help us to love others in this way—not because of who they are or who we are but because of who You are. Help us to love others well. Amen.

Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Have a blessed day.

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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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Sinking our roots deep…. (devo reflection)

Zechariah 6:12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.

Commentary posits that this section is referring to the Messiah and mentions John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches…” as corroboration supporting the point. It makes sense. And the image of Christ as a branch is a lovely one.

Zechariah 6:13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’

Colossians 2:7 furthers this idea of Christ as the branch to which we cling in that it reminds us of our role. Christ is the branch and we must root ourselves in Him. Sinking our roots deep into Him allows our faith to grow strong and allows us to overflow with thankfulness.

Zechariah 6:14 The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.

Lord, I am just barely enough of a gardener to know that even the loveliest flowers will fail without strong roots and even the tiniest, scrappiest remnant can thrive again for the same reason. Help me to root myself deeply in You so that I may flourish in the tasks You have placed before me. Help me to give you the glory. Always. Amen.

Zechariah 6:15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”

Have a blessed day. I love you.