This morning I was reading several Bible passages to prepare for a spiritual battle I know I am facing. A test of faith, trust, and hope that God is taking me by the hand and teaching me what I need to do. The following verses were an admonition for the behaviors and thoughts I had instilled in me, and the call to action to prepare for what’s ahead.
Colossians 3:12-17 “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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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. 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.”
As you can see I highlighted a phrase that stuck out for me. All this frustration and uncertainty and unknown future have been swirling around in my heart and mind. But I have a promise right there that Christ’s peace can rule in my heart. It can have absolute control that no one else, including myself, can take away. Part of this peace requires a willingness on my part to do things that are contrary to what my inner self fights for. Compassion, humility, and forgiveness are definitely not my forte. When I’ve gone so long focusing on how I’ve been wronged and abused, I bypass thinking of what others are going through and put myself on a pedestal that needs to come crashing down. And it has been crumbling, painfully yet freeing at the same time.
And put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. My part is to put on love and project that love so that a bond can be formed, perfected through God’s hand in the matter. This will have to be a thoughtful, prepared kind of love that will reflect Christ’s selfless acts of love. There is absolutely no possible way for me to completely mimic His love, but God forgives me when I willingly choose to do the opposite.
Today was an amazing time of dwelling richly in the word of Christ. Singing thankfully from the heart, along with many other worshipers. Sitting with a friend and her family, waiting for God to reveal His presence and continually become our one true desire. And the beautiful prayers on my behalf that proves God is working in my life, and is by my side helping me to conquer the enemy. One of the best phrases today was “even on our best day, we are not really worth talking about.” I’m not, no matter how much I want everything to be about me. My pain, my value, my pride. I was not there when Creation began, nor will I be here much longer in light of eternity. So what do I do now? Well, whatever I do in word or deed, it needs to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, and just give thanks to God! There are so many circumstances that no matter what I do, there may never be a favorable solution, but as long as I’ve done it in a way that pleases God, His peace will rule in my heart. How amazing is that!
My Beauty From These Ashes 