Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. v2

Paul is writing to the Colossians to warn them about the dangers of false prophets and heresy.  He simply states the key to victory of these dark forces.  Similarly, Paul did the same in Romans:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

My Prayer:  Lord You are the Way, Truth and the Light..."no one comes to the Father except through You".  You are the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and You are in and above all.  Yet You came down from heaven to willingly suffer and die for me...personally.  Thank for such an incredible gift.  I am not worth such a gift.  I know what I deserve.  I am broken.  I am selfish, quick to anger, impatient, disobedient, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Lift up my brothers in BSF...support and encourage them them with Your uplifting arms.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Colossians 1

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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. v16-18

We exist to glorify and worship Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and the one true God.  These verses in Colossians indeed are appropriate for the greatness and supremacy of God. And God of course is also supreme in our lives, and He loves us and works for our good...all that He asks is for us to believe in Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God indeed and You reign supreme in all things and I know You love me and work for my good.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am disobedient, lazy, selfish, quick to anger, impatient, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me daily all day long worship Your greatness and supremacy - help me live a life such that my body and behavior serve as a living sacrifice.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa from this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help Zach be the student You intend him to be.  Help Dustin grow and help him with talking and potty training and relating/interacting with others.  Help me avoid exasperating Zach and Dustin.  Help me point and lead both Zach and Dustin to You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. v19

On the heels of expressing his thanks to the Philippians for providing him so generously, Paul encourages the Philippians with the above words.  I am mindful of other verses in this context.

God wants us to be a cheerful giver as posted here and that we are not to worry as posted here.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a God of infinite abundance and You promise believers a life of abundance...all that You ask is for belief and faith in Jesus Christ.  Yet sometimes I worry...Lord please forgive me for such worry and thank You that You have provided so generously.  I have never lacked nor will I ever lack as long as I trust and have faith in You.  Help me turn from my worry and lack of trust and towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. v12-13

I am reminded of Paul's words here also:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Of course, God is also is the author and creator of all things:

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Psalms 24:1-2

and, God conquered the grave as posted here.  God is all we need. He is able.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed able and able beyond my needs and beyond my comprehension.  You are great and Your love and compassion is both wide and deep, and again beyond my comprehension.  You suffered and died for me, knowing everything about me, including my sin.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am weak, selfish, and lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin, turn away from it and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me lean on You for all of my needs and to be content regardless of my circumstances.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. v8-9

God wants us to be in action...He wants us to be obedient.  When He gives us a command we are to obey it...this means our reading and study of the Word should include application...or practice as Paul puts it.  James also says this:


Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Word is perfect and I know it will never fail.  It is truth and it is intended for my good and Your glory.  Yet I often am disobedient.  Thank You for Your love Jesus despite my disobedience but please forgive me!  Help me overcome my sin and turn away from it and turn towards You!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day....please...I need Your help.

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. v4-6

God wants us to pray so that we can build our relationship with Him, lean on Him, and to intercede on behalf of others - see my posts here (James 5:16) and here (Ephesians 6:18).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are...that You were willing to lay down Your life for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  I am broken and I sin.  I need You desperately in my life and I am thankful for all that You are and all that You do.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  Please forgive me for my lust and indiscretion.  I want to stay pure.  Please forgive me.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her and cure her of this cancer.  Thanks and praise God for the progress so far!  You are great!  All glory to God.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. v20-21

Much as I posted yesterday, God calls us forward, not backward.  Because we are called forward and today because we are citizens of heaven we are aliens in this world and not to become comfortable in the here and now...we have a job to do...and God calls us forward...pressing on.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God who is able to defeat the grave and one who is able to transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like Your glorious body!  How awesome You are!  I know You love me and for this I am deeply thankful and full of praise.  I am not worth such a love.  I am lazy, selfish, and disobedient.  Please forgive me Jesus! Help me overcome such sin and turn forward towards You instead!  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer. Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. v13-14

God does not hold anything against us in terms of what we have done in the past, nor does He want us to relish in the "glory days" of what we have done [see The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 56560-56562. (Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.)].  Instead, he calls us forward, knowing that He is with us every step of the way, and that He calls us to step out of the boat as Peter does. 

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:28-31

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God creator of the heavens and the earth, and of all of its inhabitants.  You are capable of all things and You suffered and died for me...knowing everything about me including my sin.  You ARE the fruits of the spirit and I know You have incredible and indescribable love and mercy for me.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am weak and lazy.  Thank You that You love me and bless me Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me avoid hindrance from my past and instead cling to You so that I may be pulled forward, boldly, towards You and who You intend me to be.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Please help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

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. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Philippians 3

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. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. v8-9

I pray that I may have this perspective that I should place ALL of my confidence not in the flesh and not in the world but in Christ my Lord and Savior. 

Referring to the heroes and faithful of the Old Testament, the author of Hebrews writes:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.  Hebrews 11:13-16

My Prayer: Lord, I know I have a true home, and that is in heaven with You.  I have read and heard much about heaven and it sounds like an incredible place and I look forward to being with You in heaven.  Yet now my time on earth is riddled with worry and other sin and I need Your forgiveness.  Thank You that You love me despite my sin but please forgive me and help me turn from this sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me understand that I am a foreigner on earth and that I should live with the end in sight...and that I exist solely on earth to glorify You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. v3-4

Jesus states (Matthew 22, John 13) that we are to love the Lord Your God with all of your, heart, soul, mind (and strength), and to love others as Christ loves You.  Core to this love is humility (see also Matthew 5 - Sermon on the Mount).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came to serve...for me, and for all of Your children, knowing everything about us, including our sin.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such a God because I am prideful and selfish.  Thank You for Your love anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me become humble...as humble as You are.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Philippians 1

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. v14

In this book, Paul is writing from prison in Rome to the church in Phillipi.  He is convinced that his present circumstances are for the glory of God...that there is goodness in his suffering.  Later in this chapter he encourages us to live in a manner "worthy of the gospel", implying that our circumstances should not prevent us from being a "light" to others and to the world:

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. v27

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God, the one and only God, the King of Kings and my Lord and Savior.  I cannot live without You and I desire desperately for You to transform my heart and my life.  I am broken and in need You in all ways and in all things.  I am selfish, lazy, easily distracted, arrogant, prideful, etc. Thank You that You love me anyway, knowing everything about me including my sin. Please forgive me for such sins and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me glorify You regardless of my circumstances, including Lisa's cancer.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

Ephesians 6

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. v18

James also says this:

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 

I am weak here...I know I should be in prayer more and more often.  Jesus please forgive me and help me stop being so lazy and selfish!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always available for me...all I need is to come to You and You will listen and respond to ALL of my prayers.  You are also giving of Yourself and You made the ultimate sacrifice...on my behalf...even though You knew everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus but please forgive me...I am not worth such a God!  I am weak, selfish, lazy, etc.  Forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me pray often and all the time for myself and others.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. v13

There is a battle for our souls every day, many times multiple times a day.  Satan is powerful...more powerful than we are by ourselves. But we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior....and what a savior He is!  He has already beaten death and sin on our behalf - we just need to believe and have faith and trust in Him.  For us to be successful at beating death and sin, we must come to Christ daily...as instructed by Moses:

 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my protector...and You have protected me from sin MANY times over and You have done so much more than that!  What a great God You are and I am SO in need of You in my life.  I am not worth such a savior as a am broken.  I am selfish, lazy, easily distracted, etc.  Thank You for Your blessings and love anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin, turn from it, and turn towards You instead!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Praise for all of the awesome support.  Help me put on daily the full armor of God.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Ephesians 6

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. v5-8

This is a tough one because I often grumble (at least to myself) that I don't like my job, etc. and this is a sin...not only for grumbling but also because I am not working for my earthly masters as if I was serving the Lord!  Jesus...forgive me! 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You serve wholeheartedly...and You are always working for my good.  I am not worth such efforts.  I am weak and I am selfish...and I grumble about my job.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for these sins and help me turn towards You instead!  Help me love and serve You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me serve my earthly masters in the same way.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please cure and heal her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6

Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. v4

This one is a tough one for me.  I know I have, many more times than I care to remember, exasperated Zach and Dustin.  I know the Lord is doing a work in me to help me avoid doing this...at the same time God wants to me demonstrate that I am bringing Zach and Dustin "up in the training and instruction of the Lord".

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

My Prayer: Lord, You do not exasperate...no au contraire!  You encourage, teach, inspire...You are gentle, merciful, compassionate, patient, just, etc.  You are all of the fruits of the spirit.  I on the other hand, am a work in progress.  I am lazy and selfish to name just two of my sins...thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for these sins and help me instead turn towards You Jesus!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me avoid exasperating my children and help me impress Your commandments and words on them instead.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.

Ephesians 5 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. v25-28

Right now, it is as important as ever for me to love Lisa and for her to feel loved...by me, and more importantly by Christ. Paul encourages me to do so by using scriptures (as a way to lay down my life for her) and to view her as holy and blameless.  This may seem difficult at times but "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)".

My Prayer: Lord, You are the only one who is truly pure, holy and blameless.  You are the one true God and You are my Lord and Savior.  I desperately need You in my life...to forgive me, for mercy, for guidance, for strength, for comfort, etc.  Thank You that You provide all of this and more.  I am not worth what You do for me as I am weak, lazy, and selfish.  Forgive me and help me both overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me love Lisa as Christ loves the church.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. v15-16

Paul encourages us to live life with urgency because no one know the hour or the day of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36) but also because our own days are numbered (Moses - Psalms 90:12).

My Prayer: Your will, design, acts - everything You do is perfect.  I, on other hand, am far from perfect and I am broken...sinful and broken.  Yet You chose me and are doing a good work in me...I am not worth such love and blessing...I am disobedient and lazy.  Thank You that You love me and bless me but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin of laziness and help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal her and cure her of this cancer - forever.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me overcome my laziness and love and serve You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day. 

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Ephesians 5

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. v13

Paul encourages us to avoid sin and evil by taking such actions as avoiding "partnering" with those who willingly commit sin (v7).  Another implied message here by Paul is that sin, when confessed to Jesus, becomes visible, and when we repent from our sin and ask Jesus to forgive us, God can use our sin or redeem it for His glory so that we become a light for others.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed and incredible God, the one and only God and my Lord and savior.  You beat death, You have done, and You are able to do all things...Phil 4:13.  You can take my sin and use it for good...and You have.  How great You are!  I am not worth such a God and worth the blessings You have provided and will continue to provide.  I am lazy, disobedient, etc.  Thank You for Your blessings and love but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please cure and heal her Jesus.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Ephesians 5

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.  For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. v4-5

Building upon what I posted yesterday, our speech reveals what is in our heart and what we say and what is in our heart can be sinful and the consequences can be dire...we should NOT assume that we are as pure as God wants to be.  We must strive for transformation of our hearts and minds.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are not worthy of such a great God...You are pure, holy, and blameless and everything You have done for us and for us is out of your boundless love for us.  I know I have unwholesome thoughts, etc. and I know these are wrong...so please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sins and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Transform and purify my heart, thoughts, and life.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

Ephesians 4

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. v29

I know that the tongue in powerful indeed but what is in the heart is most important.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6

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A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  Luke 6:45

I must focus on renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are pure, holy and blameless.  Your words and actions are only for good. And I know I was created in Your image to glorify You.  Yet I do harm with my words.  I am not worth Your love and blessings.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin.  Help me turn towards You instead and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me use words for encouragement and love.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. v14-16

I have previously posted how Christ desires for us to mature in our walk with Him.

In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 1 Corinthians 14:20

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Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God....Hebrews 6:1

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God full of love for us and You desire and plan great things for us...at the same time You expect us to love and trust You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Yet I often don't particularly in the area of working hard and submitting to my earthly masters.  Thank You that You are patient and You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn from this sin and towards You.  Help me love and trust You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me submit to my earthly masters with zeal as if I were serving You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.