Ps. 145:18 "The Lord
is close to all who call on Him."
Prov. 30:5 "Every
word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." NLT
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
REJOICE.
March Devotionals
April 1
Colossians 2:15
In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them
publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.
POWER
We have power because Jesus gives it to us. We can overcome whatever
difficulty we are facing. It may take time and it may not unfold in the way
that we determine but we will be victorious. Jesus is at work every moment
providing for our needs. Pray, pray and pray that you might be fully aware
of His power in you.
April 2
Colossians 2:16-17
So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not
celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these
rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself.
OBEDIENCE
Obedience begins in our heart and works out in our daily life. When our
life is focused on Jesus we will do the right thing. Focusing our life on
rules will create a sense of self-satisfaction, and will lull us into
thinking about how good we are. Focusing our life on Jesus will help us
identify our mistakes, take corrective action and have confidence in the
saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
April 3
Colossians 2:18
Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don't let
anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had
visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful
minds have made them proud.
PRIDE
People are always willing to speak for God but few are willing to sacrifice
for their faith. Many will stand to receive accolades but few will suffer
condemnation for their faith in Jesus Christ. When someone claims to be
speaking for the Lord be very careful. Their life and actions will soon
reveal for whom they are really speaking. Jesus wants our obedience and
service to one another and seldom needs us to speak for him. Historically
His great servants have been suffering saints that do not walk the halls of
the powerful and mighty but instead serve at the gates of hell proclaiming
that Jesus is Lord.
April 4
Colossians 2:19
But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are
joined together in his body by his strong sinews and we grow only as we get
our nourishment and strength from God.
FOCUS
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is our daily need. We can do nothing without Him and
often go awry when we seek to do it our self. Our desire is to be His will
and our activity is to be obedience. Time with Jesus equips us with the
spiritual nourishment we need for daily living.
April 5
Colossians 2:20-22
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers
of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as,
"Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch." Such rules are mere human teaching
about things that are gone as soon as we use them.
ETERNITY
We who are members of the family of God, born again in Christ, have eternity
etched into our heart. Christ is our master and His will is our guide. If
we are to survive and grow we will spend time with Jesus each day. This is
our choice. Will we throw off the chains of worldly enslavement or will we
continue to be overrun by the cares and worries of this world? Only in
Jesus can we find the strength to live a Christ like life.
April 6
Colossians 2:23
These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility,
and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to
conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires.
RULES
We much prefer rules over relationship. Jesus calls us to a living, holy,
relationship. We live every moment of our life with Him. We seek to obey
Him and submit our innermost desires and hopes to Him. We seek His
forgiveness of our sin and confess our weakness in struggling with sin to
Him. Jesus is Lord and we live because of Him. He gives us life and light
and we seek to let Him make us in His image.
April 7
Colossians 3: 1
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on
the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place
of honor and power.
AUTHORITY
We are under the authority of the living Lord Jesus. He is our
righteousness and He is our life. We live moment by moment with the
understanding that His desire is that we have a good and perfect life. All
good things come from Him. When we experience the results of evil He is
there to lead us through them. Seldom will we avoid live but in Jesus we
can live life.
April 8
Colossians 3:2
Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here
on earth.
HEAVEN
Heaven is a great place where God resides. We will one day see Him face to
face. We will live together with Him throughout eternity. We belong to
Him, we serve Him and we will live eternally under His authority. Golden
streets, walls of precious jewels all will fade in comparison to the
matchless joy of seeing Jesus. Worthy is the Lamb and worthy of all our
praise and honor. Jesus is indeed Lord.
April 9
Colossians 3:3
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ
in God.
LIFE
The world operates under the idea that it is alive. Anyone with Jesus is
dead in their trespasses and sin and only sees and knows those things that
are passing away. They are enslaved to the spirit of the world and are not
able to see the things of God. Lost people always act like lost people.
Those of us alive in Christ are charged with the responsibility of sharing
with others the life that we have. Jesus uses our heartache and tragedy to
proclaim real life in Christ. Jesus uses broken people to spread the
Gospel.
April 10
Colossians 3:4
And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world,
you will share in all his glory.
GLORY
I must confess that this is a hard thing to understand. What I do know is
that Jesus loves me. He loves me so much that He died for me. The power of
God that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power available for us who
are alive in Christ. Jesus is our life. Jesus is the Lord of all that we
see, feel and know. All glory to God the Father and to the Lord Jesus
Christ.
April 11
Colossians 3:5-6
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have
nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't
be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's
terrible anger will come upon those who do such things.
SACRIFICE
Jesus is Lord of our life. We are in control of the choices we make. Our
choice must be to claim the power for living that Jesus offers us. It is a
moment by moment, every day, and every action choice. Will I control my
life or will I let Jesus control it? When we are in control failure is
always present. When Jesus is in control we move from victory to victory.
Surrender your life to Jesus and choose to do the next right thing.
April 12
Colossians 3:7-8
You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander,
and dirty language.
CONTROL
Jesus calls us to let Him have control of our life. If we go our own way we
will continue to be dominated by whatever weakness we struggle with. If we
let Jesus have control we will change. It is really hard to let Jesus have
control of our life. It is a lifelong journey. We need encouragers, Bible
study, prayer and a willingness to change to become what we can be in
Christ. It will never happen without our surrender to Jesus.
April 13
Colossians 3:9
Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature
and all its wicked deeds.
HONESTY
We behave the way that our leader behaves. If we are in control of our life
we will behave with shortsightedness, pride, anger and wickedness. If Jesus
is in control of our life we will be new creatures in Christ. Look at
yourself. Are you acting the way that Jesus would act? If you are keep
growing and stay in the Word. If you are still acting like you have always
acted, and overwhelmed by the pressures of the world then change. Let Jesus
have control right this moment. Lord Jesus help us to give you control of
our lives.
April 14
Colossians 3:10-11
In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is
continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who
created this new nature within you. In this new life, it doesn't matter if
you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric,
uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters and he lives in all
of us.
UNITY
The world is always seeking unity. We create organizations to do it and yet
we are unable to create it. Jesus gives us a new heart. Our new heart is
creating in us new activity, new thinking and a life like Jesus. When Jesus
is in control there will be unity. When Jesus is in control our new nature
will deal with others as Jesus deals with us.
April 15
Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe
yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience.
CHOICE
We are responsible. We are responsible to pray. We are responsible to
apply spiritual knowledge to the way we live, act and worship. Every day we
get up we are faced with one choice-“how will I live today?” I can choose
to live as a child of God or I can choose to live a defeated, disappointing
life. Choose to live.
April 16
Colossians 3:13
You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person
who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
FORGIVE
We live each day reveling in the wonderful fact that we are saved. Thank
you Lord for our salvation. We also live with the fact that we are sinful
creatures even after we are saved. Have mercy Lord on us. With the
realization that all of our life is lived between victory and mercy we must
always be aware of the responsibility we have to be forgiving of others.
But for the grace of God there go I.
April 17
Colossians 3:14
And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is
what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
LOVE
Love forgives all, helps all and is victorious over all things. When we
love is when we are most like Jesus. When we love it costs us. When we
love it benefits us. When our life is based upon a commitment to love one
another it will change the way we think and feel and act. Jesus loves me
and you.
April 18
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as
members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be
thankful.
PEACE
Peace is a gift from God. We should be asking for peace each day as we face
the rigors of daily life. Peace equips us to grow. Peace gives us clear
thinking. Peace encourages others. Peace is a gift that the whole world is
looking for. Peace be unto you.
April 19
Colossians 3:6
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and
make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
WORD
The Word of God is the food that we seek for spiritual growth. His Word is
alive and active in our heats, and soul and mind. His Word is at work in us
to outfit us to face the trial that is coming. We never know how or when
that trial will come but Jesus does. His Word is the fortification for us
each day that we live enabling us to serve, grow and stand in the face of
all odds.
April 20
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do or say let it be as a representative of the Lord
Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
AGENT
We are agents of the Lord High God. Jesus will use us to represent Him if
we will let Him. Our goal is to be so much like Christ that when someone
sees us they see Jesus. As agents we can claim the power of the one that we
are representing to face the challenges of life. Do not fear for the Lord
is active and alive in us.
April 21
Colossians 3:18-22
You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who
belong to the Lord. And you husbands must love your wives and never treat
them harshly. You children must always obey your parents, for this is what
pleases the Lord. Fathers, don't aggravate your children. If you do, they
will become discouraged and quit trying. You slaves must obey your earthly
masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when
they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of
the Lord.
REVERENCE
Jesus is our focus. When our desire is to please Him everything else will
fall in place.
April 22
Colossians 3:23
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working
for the Lord rather than for people.
FOCUS
Are you focused on what you can do or what others do? When we look to Jesus
as our Lord and master, we no longer worry about what the world says. Who
are we listening too? The world wooing us into the game of measuring
ourselves by others or are we listening to Jesus as He guides us day by day.
April 23
Colossians 3:24
Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and
the Master you are serving is Christ.
GOAL
Our goal is to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus. Our reward for that is
eternal life beginning right now. In Christ we have value and worth. Not
because of what we can do but because of the One who owns us. Jesus is
Lord.
April 24
Colossians 3:25
But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have
done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.
SIN
Sin is pervasive and sly. Sin is seeking to destroy you. Do not take your
relationship with the Lord lightly. Let Christ have control of your life
and He will point out those things that you need to quit or change. Jesus
will give you strength to face the day and peace and joy to revel in it.
April 25 Isaiah
49:15-16
"Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a
child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on my hand. Ever before me is a picture of
Jerusalem's walls in ruins.
REMEMBERED
The clamor by people when they are caught in the destruction of their own
sin always singles out God as the responsible party. Immediately the
declaration is that only if you had remembered. God never forgets. When we
come to Him and ask to be a part of His family He “etches” our name in the
palm of His hand. You are remembered. You will not be forgotten. Claim
His power and presence in your life today.
April 26
Colossians 4:3-4
Don't forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many
opportunities to preach about his secret plan that Christ is also for you
Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this
message as clearly as I should.
PROCLAMATION
We must tell about Jesus as we go about our daily lives. But it is also
important to remember our friends and others that are busy spreading the
Gospel message each day. Prayer seems so easy but when we recognize how
little we pray we understand the commitment that it takes to be consistent
in prayer. Pray for me as I pray for you.
April 27
Colossians 4:5-6
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of
every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that
you will have the right answer for everyone.
LIFE
A self focused life will destroy you and everyone around you. Lift up your
eyes to Jesus and ask Him to cleanse you and to use you. Listen to those
around you and be an encourager of everyone you meet.
April 28
Colossians 4:7-10
Tychicus, a much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He
is a faithful helper who serves the Lord with me. I have sent him on this
special trip to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. I am
also sending Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own
people. He and Tychicus will give you all the latest news. Aristarchus, who
is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas's
cousin. And as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes
your way.
FRIENDS
Rejoice in the Lord for the friends He has sent you. Be a good friend, long
suffering and kind. Encourage your friends. Be hesitant to give them
advice instead choosing to listen and encourage. Your love for them will be
a significant element in a good friend making right choices and doing what
God has called them to do. Amazingly living this way is like making regular
deposits in a bank account and one day you will be able to have good friends
that will help you in your hour of need.
April 29
Colossians 4:11-13
Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the
only Jewish Christians among my co-workers; they are working with me here
for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been! Epaphras, from
your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always
prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully
confident of the whole will of God. I can assure you that he has agonized
for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
PRAY
Pray for your friends. Pray for them regularly and consistently. Pray for
their well being, for their family, for their work and for their good
health. Pray that they will be faithful to the Lord and ask the Lord what
you can do for them.
April 30 Colossians 4:14-18
Dear Doctor Luke sends his greetings, and so does Demas. Please give my
greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha
and those who meet in her house. After you have read this letter, pass it
on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read
the letter I wrote to them. And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the
work the Lord gave you." Here is my greeting in my own handwriting PAUL.
Remember my chains. May the grace of God be with you.
GRACE
Grace is great than our sin. Grace is greater than our failure. Grace is
abundant. Whatever you have done that causes you to be hesitant before the
Lord ask His forgiveness and His grace will inundate your soul.
February 2007 Devotionals
contact Clay:
clay@lifesongs.com
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Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996. Used by permission of
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NASB Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New American
Standard Bible, copyright 1975. All rights
reserved by the Lockman Foundation.
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