The Daily Dose

Wisdom

In all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians 1:9b

Yesterday I talked about being filled up with the knowledge of God’s will.  Today I want to discuss God’s will of wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Did you know wisdom was God’s will for you?  Did you know that God want you to understand spiritual things?  These seem like simple questions to answer “yes” to, but what exactly is wisdom and spiritual understanding and why would these attributes be God’s will for us today?

Let me start with wisdom.  What do we know about wisdom from God’s Word?  First of all, we know that wisdom starts with the fear of God.  If you don’t have any fear of God, you are completely empty of wisdom.  Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowing (personally) the Holy One is understanding.  Fearing the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, because you recognize that you need a Savior.  The fear of the LORD for a believer is that you are afraid to live life without your Savior.  You are aware that you cannot live this life to the fullest of God’s plan without God being close to you each day.  God doesn’t want His children/people to be afraid of Him, but if you don’t belong to Him, you should be greatly afraid. So, wisdom starts with recognizing your need for your Heavenly Father.

Wisdom is the most important thing you can possess in life.  Proverbs 4:7 says Wisdom is the principal or most vital thing, so get wisdom and also get understanding.  This scripture implies that it is within your power to get wisdom.  We know wisdom is not hard to get in fact Proverbs 8:1-2 tell us that wisdom is crying out.  Wisdom stands out in the open and calls to us, wisdom wants to be found.  Additionally, wisdom is in the words that you speak.  You can actually choose to speak wise words instead of foolishness ones. Verse 7 of Proverbs 8 says wisdom speaks truth, but wickedness speaks foolishly.  Also, all the words of the mouth of a wise person are righteous and nothing perverse is in their speech.

Lastly, there is one simple way to get wisdom, and that is to ask for it.  James 1:5 says if you lack wisdom, ask God and He will give it to you in abundance.  God wants you to be wise in all that you say and do, so He has promised that if you ask Him, He will give wisdom to you in generous amounts.  Wisdom is different from knowledge because you cannot gain it by studying or reading about it.  Wisdom only comes from God and to truly live your life by wisdom you must get it from Him by requesting it.

Today I want to encourage you to get wisdom and with all your getting, get understanding.  Wisdom and spiritual understand are the most important things in living life successfully and the good news is they are available to you.  Simply ask your Heavenly Father today and He will begin to pour His wisdom out on your life.  However, with all God’s gifts, you must be a good steward over the little before you are given the abundance.  Use the wisdom God give in your words, in your actions and in all your ways, then His spiritual understanding will follow.

Today’s scripture reading: Proverbs 8

Filled up

be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians 1:9

Yesterday I talked about praying the perfect prayer from the passage in Colossians chapter one.  So today I want to unpack this prayer some.  The phrase I want to focus on today is “be filled with the knowledge of His will.”  How do I get filled with the knowledge of His will.  Of course you start with praying and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will.  After you pray, you are now waiting for the answer to be evident in your life.  As you wait, there are some things you can do to help the process along.  So, if you are filled, you are full up to be overflowing with it.  As you use this knowledge of His will, you will need to keep refilling, kind of like putting gas in your car, you have to keep refilling it after you use some.  If I want to be full of the knowledge of anything, I go to the place where the knowledge (information) is.  For example, if I want to be full of the knowledge of the sky, I would fill my mind up with information about the sky.  I would read book, get magazines, do internet research and probably get a telescope.  I would learn so much about the sky that the information filled my thoughts.  I would be thinking about it while I was doing other things.  I would be talking about it every chance I got and I would be asking questions about the sky to anyone who had some knowledge about the subject.

It’s the same thing with filling up with the knowledge of God’s will.  We know God has a will and we know His will extends to His plans for our lives.  So, we start by talking to Him. We ask Him to make His will plain and clear.  We ask Him to empower us to follow His will and we listen to the things He is speaking to our heart each day.  This has to be done on purpose and will require you to set aside time each day to get to know Him and His will better.  Second, we fill our minds and spirits up with His written Word.  God’s written Word is His will.  Every promise He made in the Bible is His will written out for you.  We can begin to follow all instruction we read in His Word and know we are filling up with the knowledge of His will.  We do things such as tithing, connecting with other, loving others and forgiving others just to name a few.  We know God will never leave us.  He wants to spend as much time with you as you can give to Him.  He is always available and will never turn you away.  In His Word we can find out His will for the world around us.  For example, He is not willing or we could say it is not God’s will that anyone should perish (2 Peter 3:9).  We know things that He is planning for the future because He explained them in the book.

Being filled with the knowledge of God’s will is not hard at all, you simply give your attention to, study and learn all you can about who God is and what His plans are.  When you put aside the things that you usually do in your spare time that are not productive, you are then in a position to use that time to talk to Him and learn more about your Heavenly Father and His will.  Jesus is our ultimate example and He knows the will of His Father.  He prayed in the garden, “Father, not my will but Yours be done.”  He knew that God had a plan to save the people of the world from the destruction they were headed toward and He knew His part in that plan.  He surrendered and humbled Himself to that plan and we should do the same.

Today I want to encourage you to get filled up with the knowledge of God’s will for your life.  Start with spending time with Him each day in prayer and reading His Word.  Spend time in worship with music or with psalms.  Learn everything you can in His Word and the promises He made to you.  Lastly, put away the things that have no eternal value in your life and determine today to submit and surrender to the will of God by being filled up with it on a consistant basis.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 1:9-14

The best way to pray                                 

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians 1:9

Have you ever had it on your heart to pray for someone and you didn’t quite know what to pray? Maybe it was for a sick friend or loved one? Maybe for someone who had a need financially or emotionally? Maybe it was for your children and you could see what you thought would make things better for them so that’s what you prayed? Like . . .Lord, give them the perfect job, the perfect spouse or help them find the best home or where to go to school? We all have specific needs for today, but what’s the best way to pray?

In today’s verse Paul prays for the Colossian Christians. However, he doesn’t pray for their specific needs.  He doesn’t pray: LORD, please don’t let them be persecuted or make sure they have all they need.  Instead he thanks God for them and then he prays for their spiritual needs. He prays that God would fill them up with knowing His will with wisdom and spiritual understanding. He prays that they would be fully pleasing to God and fruitful in their good works. Then he asks that they would increase in the knowledge of God and be strengthened with all might by God’s glorious power.  He thanks God that He has qualified them to take part of the inheritance of the saints. Lastly, he prays for them to be delivered from the power of darkness (protection) and that God would move them into the kingdom of His love.

What a great prayer! What if we began to pray these things over our loved ones instead of the specific need they have for today. When God answers the prayer of spiritual blessings on those we are praying for, they will be catapulted through their current day-to-day struggle. They will know how to handle the things that come day to day because they are filled up with knowing God’s will with wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Now they are focused on being fruitful in every good work and increasing in knowing God personally each day.  They are strengthened with His might and power and qualified to take part in the inheritance of God, their Heavenly Father.  I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds much better than “help them find the perfect job”

This is a great revelation for me as I’ve spent many years praying over my family and those I love with specific needs that I could see would make a difference in their lives.  However, now I have changed my view of these things to pray for their spiritual needs first of all. Here’s the thing when the spiritual needs are met, the physical needs will follow.  In fact, this is how to be like a tree planted by the water that doesn’t even notice when the drought comes. (Jeremiah 17:8)

Today I want to encourage you to begin to pray these things over your family and loved ones. This prayer in Colossians is a good place to start but there are also some other effective prayers we discussed earlier in Ephesians chapter 1 and 3. Not only will this way of praying bring spiritual results to those you are praying for, it will produce peace of mind as you grow in the knowledge of Him.  Here is an example of what your prayer could sound like:

 Heavenly Father, I want to thank You today that my spouse, family, friends, neighbors and co-workers are filled up with the knowing Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Thank You that they walk worthy of You by fully pleasing You, being fruitful in every good work, increasing and growing by getting to know You in a deeper way each day.  I thank You that they are strengthened with all might by Your glorious power to be joyfully patient and longsuffering.  Thank You Father, for qualifying all of us to have a part of Your inheritance that You have given all the saints and for delivering us from the power of darkness.  Thank You for propelling us into the kingdom of Your Son, Jesus, by His great love and in Whom we have our redemption through His blood that erases all our sins.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 1:9-18

It starts with love

He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.  Colossians 1:8

We all know what we are supposed to be doing.  We know the reason that we, as God’s children are in this world.  We know we are to share the love of God with those around us and truthfully, it shouldn’t be hard.  So why does is feel like such an intimidating task at times?  Why do we sometimes feel like we are going to be rejected if we share the greatest gift ever with others?  Some how we have gotten the idea that if this gift is rejected, we are rejected.  But that just isn’t the case. 

I have heard the message of salvation presented in many different ways, but mostly, it is presented as an option rather than the gift that it is.  You know, “You can choose Jesus or you can choose hell.”  Or maybe it is presented like an ultimatum, “If you don’t choose Jesus you are going to hell.”  Mostly in churches it is presented as both, “You are going to hell so you better choose Jesus.” While these statements certainly are true, it is not the most effective way to reach others. These approaches do not reflect the true heart of God’s love for all people.

Today’s verse is about Epaphras.  He was the person who shared the good news of Salvation with the believers at Colossae.  He was with Paul’s team representing these believers, in ministry with Paul.  Epaphras kept in touch with the Colossians and reported their testimonies and the work that the Holy Spirit was doing there to Paul.  These were not perfect people.  I know this because nobody is perfect, but Epaphras had the consistent report that these believers loved people.  They have the kind of love for people that is given by the Holy Spirit.  How do you get that kind of love?  By asking for it, of course.  These people still had problems and still had issues.  They were Christians in a persecuted world, but they were still bringing people into the Kingdom.  Not because of what they should be doing and not because they were worried about feeling guilty if they didn’t.  It was because they loved people.  Here’s the thing, when you love people, you want to share the gift of Salvation with them.  Not as a choice or ultimatum, but rather as the gift of love that it is. We have the good news, the best news there ever was and the good news is that we don’t have to live another day separated from our loving, kind, good, all powerful Heavenly Father.  He made a way that we could be with Him in relationship right where we are today!  Glory to God!

Today I want to encourage you to start with love.  Before you go out looking for people to be a witness to, ask the Holy Spirit for the kind of love for people that only He can give.  Pray for that love each morning as you prepare for your day. Ask the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of others to receive His love and begin to connect with others in your life with that love.  God loves us and if we love others, the message of His love will flow freely from us!

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 1:1-8

Relationships

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; Colossians 1:3&4

Recently, someone I was once close to passed on from this life.  On hearing about their passing, I was reminded that the quality of my life consists in the extent of my relationships.  What impact am I making on the lives of others?  Does it matter to anyone else in the world that I exist?  Am I the kind of person that is interested in continuously making new connections with people to make a difference in what they are going through right now?  Or do I just keep to my own little circle minding my own business and never reach out to others?

In today’s scripture, Paul, once again, talks about giving thanks and praying for the Colossian Christians.  Even though he wasn’t with them personally, he impacted their lives by remembering to pray for them, thanking God for them and reaching out to them by sending messages of encouragement.  Paul made a great impact on the world because of his calling to start churches in cities everywhere he went, but he didn’t stop there.  Even after he moved on to the next city, he maintained his relationships through praying and communication.  Paul’s life not only mattered to the work God was doing in the world, it mattered to the people he reached along the way.  I would go as far as saying, the work God had for him to do was to connect and love people, just the way Jesus did.  Paul’s mission wasn’t to merely set up churches like starting a business from town to town.  His assignment was to start relationships, not only connect people to God through Jesus, but to stay connected with them as he discipled them through his example and loving them.

What about us today?  Is our purpose any different that Paul’s?  Sure, we may not all be out there starting new church meeting places and groups that meet, but we are adding to the church body as a whole.  Our assignment is to make disciples and we do that by connecting with and loving on people that are in our everyday lives.  Then when relationship end or pass, it is just another opportunity for God to share His great grace with you.  When you are weak, He is strong! (2 Cor. 12:10)

Today I want to encourage you to think about the impact you are making on the world around you?  Are you praying for others every day?  Do you think about how you can make more of a difference in your world?  Ask your Heavenly Father today to lead you to those you can pray for and encourage, then be ready to listen to that soft prompting on the inside when He does bring someone close.  Decide today that you are going to make a lasting impression on the lives of others and then connect with people because you want to share the love of God with them in the way you love and care for them.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 1:3-8

God’s Grace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:2

God’s grace!  I’ve written about it many times in the past.  God’s grace gives us Salvation, empowerment and ablitlity just to name a few of its benefits, but did you ever consider where grace truly comes from?  Well, God of course, but it is actually God’s very own grace.  The same grace that is on God, our Heavenly Father, He extends to those of us that He calls His own people.  Think about it . . . . the same grace that was on God to create Heaven, the universe, our world, people and all physical things, He shares with us.  Grace is not something we can gain on our own, it is not something that originated with people and it is not something the enemy has to offer.  Grace is all from God!  When you see gifts and talents on a person’s life, they’re there because of God’s grace.

Now here is more good news about grace, according to today’s scripture, we can give grace to others.  Certainly, it is within our ability to be gracious to others when they fall short or need a helping hand, but in the verse today, Paul actually prays God’s grace on the Colossian Christians.  Let’s consider what that does.  Praying God’s grace on others can bring them peace, goodness and empowerment.  God’s grace brings ability, strength and energy.  God’s grace gives whatever a person needs at the time we pray for them.  Praying God’s grace on others is actually the greatest prayer you can pray for someone because through grace salvation is obtained and every other need is satisfied.  2 Corinthians 9:8 says it this way: When God gives all His grace to you, there is abundantly enough for you to have everything you need, when ever you need it and to the extent that it surpasses the need. (my paraphrase) God’s grace is the very thing that we need to complete every good work that He has laid out before us to accomplish.  Simply put: God’s grace is His unending supply of His presence!

Today I want to encourage you to pray for God’s grace on your life.  Confess to Him that you know you cannot complete the things He has for you to do without His grace, then let Him know how much you enjoy having that grace on your life for whatever the need or task is.  Thank Him for sharing His very own grace and empowerment with you and then ask Him to lead you to the things that He planned for His grace to accomplish through you.  Now pray for God to share His grace with other you know that may be in need right now.  Whether its sickness, emotional pain, financial need or problems in a relationship God’s grace is the very thing that can take care of it.  Wrap your life in God’s grace today and then share it with others through your prayers everywhere you go.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 1:1-3

Pray first

May every one of you overflow with the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Philippians 4:23

Yesterday I talked about bringing others along.  Bringing others along with you in ministry, in life and in the kingdom of Heaven.  I know that is easier to say than do sometimes.  It isn’t always the easiest thing to walk up to someone and start talking to them about your Savior Jesus and quite frankly, will probably repel some people rather than bring them closer.  Still, the reason we are here in the world is to be God’s witness.  However, the way to be the most effective is to get wisdom first.

I titled today’s dose “Pray first” mainly because that is where wisdom comes from, but also because that is where we prepare ground.  What am I talking about preparing ground?  The ground of the heart.  In Mark chapter 4, the parable of the sower says there are different types of ground that seed (the Word) is planted in.  When we begin with prayer, that ground can be prepared ahead of time to receive that seed of the Word, God’s love or testimony of God’s goodness…whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart that will be the most effective at the time.  Praying first is doing ground work before you start the planting.  Sometimes we get so caught up in knowing what we are supposed to do that we forget to consult the Holy Spirit for wisdom and direction.  Here’s the thing, the Holy Spirit knows the heart of people and He gives exactly the right words for you to say that will reach that person at the time.  The thing is, it doesn’t matter how much you know, it matters how much or what the other person can receive.

Today’s verse is a blessing from Paul to all the believers at Philippi, but it is also a blessing for all believers everywhere.  It says we can all have God’s grace and favor to the point that it overflows.  That implies that we can become so full of that grace and favor that they are pouring out of us continually.  Anyone who comes around and gets near us is bound to get some of this overflowing grace and favor on them.  In the same way, if you spend time with God and take time to be in His presence,  you cannot stop His grace from getting on you.  Of course, that starts with prayer.  Setting special time aside each day to seek Him out. 

Today I want to encourage you to pray first.  Pray for wisdom to speak to others, pray for the Holy Spirit’s leading and prompting at just the right time.  Pray for the hearts of those you will encounter today to be ready to receive the seed of God’s Word and Salvation.  Then be listening and ready when you get a nudging or knowing in your heart that it’s time to act and take the step of faith to obey that prompting,  Break up the fallow ground all around you today by praying first.

Today’s scripture reading: Philippians 4

Bring others along

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. Philippians 4:22

I’m not sure at what point in Paul’s life that he wrote the letter to the church in Philippi, but according to his closing comments here, he was living in Caesar’s house, or at least he was well acquainted with those who lived there.  That’s pretty awesome!  Paul was in prison and going to trial before Caesar and on the way there, he ended up living there.  The really interesting part is that he was so close to them that he sends a greeting to the churches from the entire household.  Like they were all part of his team. In other passages, Paul talks about some of the palace guard being converted to Christianity. (see Phil 1:13)  It was pretty evident that not many that were around Paul didn’t hear the gospel.  Even those who didn’t meet him personally knew that he was being tried because of his faith in Jesus.

The point is that Paul always brought others along with him. Every where he went and every place he was, he was always inviting others into the Kingdom of Heaven.  He was determined to let others just hang out so that they could hear more about the gospel and see the power of the Holy Spirit at work.  At the very least, he left people with a lasting impression that made them talk about his predicament even when he wasn’t around.  Paul was a man of passion and purpose and he channeled that energy to draw all people to Jesus.

What about us today?  Sure, probably none of us have a world-wide call on our lives like Paul did, but how are we influencing our little world.   I’m talking about our little part of the world that we live in.  What do others know about us and what are they saying after we leave a conversation.  Do we leave them thinking about the One who loves and died for them?  Do we leave them with a feeling of hope for the future?  Or do we leave them feeling like they do at the end of every other interaction?  What makes us different from the rest of the world is our relationship with Jesus and the way we bring others along with us to Him.

Today I want to encourage you to bring others along with you.  Some places to start are in our neighborhoods, workplace and family gatherings.  Be gentle, loving and kind to those around you not argumentative and determined to be right.  Let others know you have hope for the future not fear.  You can even offer to pray with others for whatever crisis they are currently in.  Prayer is widely received by most people and can be an open door to lead others to the One who wants to bring them along for eternity.

Today’s scripture reading: Philippians 4:21-23

Great Glory

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Today’s verse is probably one of the most commonly used verses in all of scripture when it comes to finances.  This is a verse that most Christians will take ahold of when funds are tight.  They will cling to the promise that God will supply every need they have even when every dime is completely spent.  Thank goodness God is so faithful and always comes through when we get into a bind, but that is not exactly what the message of the text is saying.

As was discussed earlier this week, Paul was commending and thanking the church at Philippi for the support they had sent for the work of the LORD that Paul’s team was doing.  In this same passage he even goes as far to say that none of the other churches he planted, visited and wrote letters to had sent anything to help them along in their travels.  Paul did not ask for them to send him this blessing. In fact he tells the Philippian people that his excitement in getting the gift from them was not about how it provided for his team, but rather about the abundant reward and blessing that they would receive because of their generosity (verse 17). 

This promise in verse 19 is a special blessing and promise for the people of Philippi.  Paul told them that because they were faithful to support God’s mission, He (God) would supply or take care of all their needs.  Not just in a little way, but according to God’s riches in glory!  That’s a lot!  This church was blessed not because of their great need, it was because of their great giving!

Today is Thanksgiving, and we are so thankful for the provision that our Heavenly Father always gives.  Thankfully, He does give when we have needs and supplies when we have lack.  However, God’s greatest gifts and blessings come to us as we give and bless others.  Nothing moves the hand and heart of God quicker then when we have a sincerely generous heart.  When we know that God’s goodness flow through us to others and we don’t worry about the supply running out because my God supplies all your needs in agreement with His rich and great glory.

Today’s scripture reading: Philippians 4:14- 20

Contentment

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.  Philippians 4:11

Have you ever struggled trying to gain contentment?  It seems like I am always after the next great accomplishment or latest convenience hoping to find real contentment.  Maybe if I get the “just released” smart phone, or the new luxury vehicle?  I finally realized that it doesn’t matter what it is, things and goals will never bring contentment.  Oh, maybe I will have a sense of satisfaction for a while, but it is just a fleeting feeling.  The truth is contentment isn’t a feeling that can be satisfied by something, someone or some achievement.  Contentment is a state of being.  It is a posture of peace that can only be attained by putting your trust in your Heavenly Father.

In today’s scripture, Paul talks about contentment.  He says that he has learn that no matter what the circumstances are, he is at rest knowing that God is leading him and providing all his need.  Paul said that he knows lack and he knows abundance, but what he focuses on is that he can do anything through the power of Christ Jesus who strengthens him for every situation.  I like the way this verse is worded in The Passion Translation, because it says:  “For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.”  Wow!  That’s a good word!  True contentment doesn’t come from the security of finances, it doesn’t come from the promise of no trouble ahead and it doesn’t come from taking a sigh of relief at the end of a great battle.  True contentment is only in the one who hold your life and future in His hands and trusting Him to take you through whatever is coming up next.

This is good news in our world today.  We are on the verge of something new and unpredictable almost constantly.  Who knows what is coming up next?  The good news is that He does and He also knows that if we trust Him, He will get us through and not just barely.  He will bring us through every struggle, crisis and obstacle to great victory every time.  2 Corinthians 2:14 says: Now thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  Knowing that God will always give us the victory and trusting Him to get us through no matter what we face is the only way to find complete peace and contentment!

Today I want to encourage you to think about contentment in your life.  Where does yours come from?  Consider the things you have obtained thinking they would fulfill the need inside of you for completeness.  Then think about what Paul said concerning his circumstances for the solution of contentment.  Lastly, keep this promise in your heart: You can do all things through Christ who gives you the strength to do them.  That means, whatever comes your way, His power gives you the strength to get you through to great victory.  That is where your true contentment is.

Today’s scripture reading: Philippians 4:10-14