365 Days of Praise
I AM DEVOTED to PRAYER
“Devote yourselves to prayer,“
“In Christ,” we have the opportunity to be different from those who do not know Christ. We have the opportunity to scale the heights of heaven with our needs, concerns, and praises. We are not isolated or alone. The Holy Spirit is glued to us for eternity and is available to help us pray our deepest concerns. Our part? Begin the conversation with God. Open the spiritual door. And, keep it open. How? When your eyes open in the morning, train yourself to open a conversation with God. “Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You that You are with me. Thank You that You are with my loved ones. You are a good and gracious God. Thank You for your presence with me. Direct my mind and thoughts to honor You today.” Then, keep praying whatever is on your mind. You may pray while still in bed. You may begin while waking, then move to a place where you “meet with God” for Bible study and continued prayer. But the point is, as Christians, we are to do more than pray The Lord’s Prayer at funerals and weddings. Rather, God’s instruction is to DEVOTE myself to prayer. “Devote” comes from a word that means “be steadfastly attentive to, continue in, persevere, be in constant readiness for one.” So, we are attentive to our first thoughts when we wake and turn our thoughts to prayer. We continue in prayer through the morning, afternoon, and evening. We are in constant readiness to pray when concerns arise or we are tempted. DEVOTED. That is the word that describes the Christian’s prayer life; unlike the unbeliever’s occasional “arrow prayer” in crisis.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of being able to talk to You. May I never take the opportunity to pray for granted. Rather, may You know me as one who is devoted to prayer.
Correction: The Scripture reference for the prior 365 Days of Praise:, “I HAVE a MASTER in HEAVEN, is Colossians 4:1.
Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
NAS Bible Verses, Bible Gateway, #bgbg2
*http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/17/this-map-shows-where-the-worlds-30-million-slaves-live-there-are-60000-in-the-u-s/
I HAVE A MASTER
“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.“
Christians have a Master. A heavenly one; which is a blessing. Why? Because “master” means owner. At the time the Bible was written, slavery was common; just as it is today. “Today?” you ask. Yes. Sadly, there are 30 million slaves in the world; 60,000 in the United States.* The word master means owner; one who has control of a person. Unfortunately, many slaves have horrible masters. But not us. Our owner is good and loving and kind. What He commands is in our best interest and for kingdom purposes. Can you imagine what it would be like if we only did, said, and thought what our Master dictated? What attitude would change? What relationship would change? What thoughts would change? What words would change? I’m glad to be reminded that I have a Master in heaven. Are you?
Heavenly Father, You are a good and gracious Master. Help me be a good servant; thinking, saying, and doing only what You dictate and what brings You honor.
Thank you for your patience while 365 Days of Praise was on hold last week.
Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
NAS Bible Verses, Bible Gateway, #bgbg2
*http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/17/this-map-shows-where-the-worlds-30-million-slaves-live-there-are-60000-in-the-u-s/
I WORK As for the LORD, Principle 5
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;“
In my book, If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?, I include “15 Principles of Work” that are related to this and the next few verses in Colossians. Principle 5 is: I Am to Work As If I Am Working for the Lord. When Paul wrote Colossians, slavery was an established institution in the Roman Empire. According to author Warren Wiersbe, there were 60 million slaves. Many were well-educated people with great responsibility, who served in the homes of the wealthy and helped to educate and discipline children. Christianity introduced a new perspective on slaves and masters. Masters were no longer to treat slaves as objects, but rather as fellow heirs of salvation. Slaves were not to halfheartedly serve their masters, but were to work as if they were serving the Lord. Paul points out that everyone has someone “over” them. In regard to our relationships, we are to work/serve in sincerity of heart rather than be “man-pleasers” who give external service with an insincere heart. The Lord often brings this verse to my mind when I’m faced with tasks I don’t want to do or if I’m having a difficult time completing a task. It’s a relatively easy verse to memorize and definitely worth it as it makes so much sense. If our lives are Christ’s, then both menial and important tasks should be done with integrity and without complaining; for we’re serving the Lord. If we’re exhausted at the end of the day and tired of taking care of little ones, being a care-giver, paying bills, or working a 12+ hour day, we can remember that God sees us. What we’re doing and the attitude in which it’s done is important to Him, even if no one else notices. It is God whom we serve.
See right here for more of what the scriptures have to say about work and what every Christian needs to know about it.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to serve You in whatever work I am doing. Help me keep this verse on my mind as I remember who I am in Christ.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I Am GOD’S CHILD
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.“
Personalize this verse. It reveals how God views you as His child. “Whatever I do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” If we keep that in mind today, it will frame our choices. It will put boundaries on our thought life. It will affect what we do with our hands. Keeping this verse in mind will control my tongue and more importantly my heart. Will you memorize this verse with me and repeat it often throughout the day? Let’s see if hiding this verse in our hearts makes an impact on our choices and mood today, okay? Let me know.
Heavenly Father, thank YOU for setting a boundary around my mind, heart, emotions, and actions. If I can’t do it, speak it, think it in Jesus’s name, then it is off limits. If I can, while giving thanks to You for the thought, feeling, words, actions, then I have a green light and Your blessing.
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I HAVE the WORD of CHRIST & SONGS of PRAISE RICHLY DWELLING in Me
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.“
I love this verse because it reminds us that we may have been raised in a home where we heard how bad or unworthy we were, but now we have “new tapes.” We have the Word of Christ richly dwelling in us. We have new songs to play in our minds – spiritual songs about our Heavenly Father, how much He loves us and we love Him. If you’ve listened to the “tape” that you’re not a good singer or decided you don’t care for Christian music, replace that thought with the truth of today’s verse. Singing in our hearts to God isn’t a performance before others. Rather, it changes us from the inside out. If you aren’t familiar with Christian songs or hymns, listen HERE for FREE. Tune into Christian music to tune your heart to the many blessings and joy that are yours in Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank YOU for giving me new words – the Word of Christ and new songs – songs of praise.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
CHRIST RULES in MY HEART
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts;“
When we become Christians, we become citizens of the kingdom of God. We fall under HIS GODLY RULE. Rather than being slaves to our old temperament or slaves to sin, we are freed to experience His peaceful rule. Rule means to be an umpire, decide, determine, direct, control. Commentator Wuest quotes Lightfoot on this passage. “Whenever there is a conflict of motives or impulses or reasons, the peace of Christ must step in and decide which is to prevail.” When you’re experiencing Christ’s peace, a traffic jam doesn’t throw you for a loop because you know God can make all things work together for good. Peace is not going crazy when well-laid plans fall apart because you know God has a better plan. You prayerfully turn your situation over to Him and let Him rule. Peace is knowing that God can work in your child’s life even when things look dismal. Peace is letting Christ calm the raging storm that threatens to blow you off course. Peace is trusting your marriage to God as you let Him rule over your emotions, mind, and actions. Peace is not fearing the unknown, but rather resting in God who knows all. Who is ruling your heart? Christ is offering.
Heavenly Father, thank YOU for the unbelievable gift of Christ and His rule in my heart.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I HAVE CHRIST’S PEACE
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body;“
Are you peaceful? Certainly we would agree that we need Christ’s peace, not only as a state of our salvation, but also flowing through our hearts. But, how is it possible on a day in, day out basis to have Christ’s peace? The answer is the same way we experience God’s other virtues. When Christ established our eternal peace with God, a conduit of grace opened to us. The Holy Spirit freely flows in our spirits. He urges us, “Take off your rags of bitterness, worry, unkindness. Put on my coat of divine peace.” Peace means the “tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot.” Does that describe us?
Heavenly Father, forgive me for so often worrying and being anxious when, in fact, I am assured of my salvation in Christ. I have nothing to fear for You are with me. I have every reason to be content. Thank You for the peace Christ gives me.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I AM LOVING
“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.“
In Christ, we are new creations and love is one of the main identifying characteristics. As a matter of fact, we’re exhorted “beyond all“ to “put on love.” Paul’s use of beyond all is best translated “upon.” In other words, if you’re layering your virtuous clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, and forgiveness, remember to put love as your outer garment. Love is the belt that holds everything together. It’s the jacket, the outer garment that must be seen. As Weust words Colossians 3:14, “And upon all these, put on divine love, which is a binding factor of completeness.” Have you ever had a great outfit, but it lacked something? Perhaps a belt, the right shoes, or jacket? Love is the complement to all the other divine virtues. Don’t leave home with out it! Without love, what are we like? A shiny, clanging cymbal who annoys others (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that the essence of my life is to be about love – Your love – reflected in and through my heart. Fill me to overflowing with Your love today.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I AM FORGIVING
“…forgiving one another, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.“
Can you say, “I am forgiving.” Without Christ, it would likely be impossible for us to be forgiving. But, because we have received mercy, we can and SHOULD be forgiving. We may need to underline those words in our Bibles as a reminder of who we are in Christ: forgiven and forgiving. Does forgiving someone mean what they did was OK? No. Does forgiving someone mean you have to put yourself in harms way with the person again? No. Does forgiving mean the person won’t be judged or pay for what he or she did? The blessing is, we don’t have to figure that out. The person will stand before God. Vengeance is His. He will repay. (Hebrews 10:30) Our responsibility is to obey God and be the new creation we are in Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me. Help me remember my identity in Christ. I am not the “old” me. I forgive as You have forgiven me.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I AM CHRIST’S VESSEL
“put on…humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another,“
As we consider who we are in Christ, it’s important to remember that we’re His vessels on earth. Humility stands in stark contrast to pride. It isn’t cringing-submission or thinking poorly of ourselves. Rather, it’s humble submission to God and service toward others. Gentleness isn’t weakness. It’s power under control. It’s a mother firmly, lovingly disciplining her children rather than lashing out. It’s a spouse boldly speaking the truth in love rather than being cutting and rude. To be patient and bear with one another means to be long-tempered rather than short-tempered. It’s holding up under pressure. We may tire of situations or even people. However, as Christ bears with us, we’re to bear with others. To bear with one another and forgive means “to hold up, sustain, endure.” It’s the opposite of quitting on each other. It affects every relationship of our lives. Whether you’re in a difficult marriage or work relationship; in the throes of child rearing, serving as caregiver; or battling your own sins, God has a word for you: Don’t give up. Hang in there! With God, nothing is impossible. Lk 1:37
Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder of who I am in Christ. Fill me and use me today as Christ’s vessel.
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Adapted from If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?