Heavenly Father, I praise You that we have Your word for wisdom, guidance, comfort, and knowledge but most of all to remind us of what You promise and say is true. I praise You that are big enough and mighty enough to have inspired men to write with Your Spirit in them so that what they wrote remains true and for our use.
Holy Spirit teach me to fully grasp what Paul tried to explain with Your Spirit inspiring him: “Since I have died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though I still belong to the world do I submit to its rules; ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’ These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I will set my heart on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. I will set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is my life, appears, then I also will appear with Him in glory.” [Colossians 2:20-23 and 3:1-4]
Let me not see this as mere words or generalities. Help me to keep my focus on living a life that is a doer of Your word and that I learn to actually be like Christ and love, forgive, and walk among people with the knowledge of who I belong to and where I am going.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Holy Spirit help us to bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. Teach me to forgive as the Lord forgave me. And over all these virtues help me to put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we are called to peace. Let us be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God. And whatever we do, whether in word or deed, help us to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen. Colossians 3:12-17