Colossians

Thank You for being my never changing North Star, guiding me in the way of truth and honor. Without Your wisdom to guide me, I would wander lost in darkness. You revealed the way of security and peace.

But, Father, all around me have become dependent upon human wisdom and cannot understand the chaos that seems to be everywhere they turn.

But the greatest human minds, the most skilled Cray computer programmers, the wisest Ivy league professors the most admired philosophers have no understanding
without You. If we learn upon the brightest among us to cure our depravity we are indeed lost.

You alone are the wellspring of truth and wisdom. Guide me in the way of blessing and help me show others the way.

AMEN

Scripture: “Don’t let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ. “ Colossians 2:8

In America today, truth has become a rare commodity. We too often resort to half-truths to protect our preferred outcomes. You call a “half-truth”, a total lie.

I confess it is all too easy for me to rationalize leaving part of the story out if it doesn’t fully support my preferred outcome.

But, can justice survive half-truths? True justice requires an unbiased telling of all the facts. An opinion may allow aggregating facts in support of my position, but justice requires a full revelation of all the known facts.

Fortunately, You know all the facts…You’re justice is never shaded by half-truths.

Help me walk in unblemished integrity, wise discernment and to be slow to judge others. Give me the courage to speak truth in all circumstances.

AMEN

Scriptures: “Don’t let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ.” Colossians 2:8

We have lost the capacity to speak truth in love. In our rush to shock…to win the argument…to put our adversary on defense, our language has become coarse, vulgar and threatening. I’m too often guilty of this failure myself.

I am called to speak even unwanted truth with gentleness and compassion. The harsher my language the more I force others to defend themselves, the more I degrade myself and undermine the truth.

We’ve all seen educated and sophisticated celebrities attack their opponents with such vulgarity and viciousness that any light they might have shed on the situation is lost in the darkness. Coarse vulgarity and civil discourse don’t co-exist.

Help me speak truth with grace and humor. A little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down.

AMEN

Scripture: “But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:8

You are perfect unity. You created mankind with distinct variety…each Your child, each loved equally by You…yet mankind has come to view our different and unique qualities as the basis for discrimination, division, and distrust.

What You meant to be diverse and to be rejoiced has become the basis of tribal struggles for power and dominance. Darkness has enveloped our spirits, where we should be celebrating Your creative genius and welcoming one another with brotherhood and rejoicing…there is distrust and animosity. Our confusion and division are victories for the prince of darkness but it cannot withstand the light of Your truth.

Bandage our brokenness, heal our distrust, restore the human family and lead us back to unity with one another and fellowship with You.

AMEN

Scripture: “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” Colossians 3:11

I do not fear the darkness because Your light overcomes the darkness. Yet today In America, the enemy is claiming to be light…hoping to deceive those seeking a way out of the web of hopelessness being spun to entrap them for eternity.

Father, so many today have no foundation of truth from which to identify the lies being promoted to keep them from finding the forgiveness and peace You offer.
Shine brightly on all the dark and evil being hyped on the social media and in broadcast media as spiritual guidance. Without Your sunshine, the darkness will prevail in America and many will be deceived.

Give me the wisdom and the courage to be a beacon of love and truth in my community. Use me in the raging battle.

AMEN

Scripture: “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” Colossians 2:8

My heart is burdened for the Americans trapped in a woke world with no escape.

Teachers are required to teach…false history…inappropriate sexual content…pronouns that make no sense and forced to keep “secrets” from parents. Families in communities with biased laws reduced police protections and a public education system devoid of any parental input. Police in jurisdictions where they are undermanned, overly restricted, and underappreciated. Citizens are forced to take unproven vaccines and boosters in order to keep their jobs. These are but a few of the “woke” issues entrapping people. This hopelessness created by elites unburdened by the impact is real. America has become dark so quickly, many are trapped with no escape.

There are so many in need of rescue from this darkness. Be a beacon of hope to those trapped and in despair.

AMEN

Scripture: “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son” Colossians 1:13

The joy of being part of the multi-racial, multi-cultural family of God is exhilarating and uplifting. To know Your love extends to every human and the invitation to join together at Your banquet table is open to all who will come through Christ is just to begin to understand the depth and breadth of Your love for Your creation.

It is painful to know that many have rejected Your offer of fellowship and the divisions that has forged between us.

Help us, Your children, learn to love and forgive as You love and forgive. Teach us how to reach out to others regardless of our differences, embrace our common humanity and become a bridge to unity and to the celebration of You.

May I live out this challenge in my daily life.

AMEN

Scripture: “Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.” Colossians 3:14