“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13
I woke up with at least 5 things on my mind as soon as I opened my eyes. Busy, distracted and unfocused my mind filled with worry about this one or admonished myself because of that thing I forgot to do. I prayed, “Dear Lord, I want to stop this Merry Go Round I’m on but don’t know how.” Am I alone in feeling this way? The answer to my prayer was this section of scripture:
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
True peace comes only through Jesus, the kind of peace that slows down that out of control feeling and changes it into a heart full of thanksgiving. I read on:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
Like a cooling rain or a soothing balm the words of scripture refresh and renew. The natural reaction is a heart that becomes thankful for this respite and then worships and praises Jesus our Lord. As I thanked God, out went the anxiousness of trying to be everything for everybody – out went the confusion of complicated relationships – in came thankfulness, compassion and forgiveness. Above all the love of God was poured into me so I can start today with:
First: Jesus Christ (Remember who I am in Him).
Second: His word (Reading scripture to strengthen my faith and to know Him more).
Third: Forgiveness (I am forgiven completely and His word re-enforces that truth).
Fourth: Thanksgiving (How can I not be thankful?)
My life doesn’t depend on what I’ve done but what Jesus did! The overflowing love of God is with me whether I’m spinning on a Carousel or sitting at His feet.
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14
Let the Lord save you from the overabundance of triviality and noise in your life. Get off your merry-go-round and give the Lord the mess of superficial banalities that dull our senses to what is truly important and can send our lives spinning. Let His word heal you, bring back into focus what is really important and don’t forget to be thankful.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
by Eve Montano