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Listen while you read: "I Am Not Skilled To Understand"1 (Lyrics) |
Colossians 1:9-10 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (NIV)
My two-year-old granddaughter is not clumsy by nature, yet she goes through periods where she is continually tripping, stumbling, and falling. This occurs because she is constantly growing, and her mind has to be forever keeping up with her changing body maturity.
Likewise, in Christ, we, too, are to be continually growing in the knowledge of God. This fact also means that much like my little grandchild, we, too, will stumble, trip, and fall as we do so. Learning and implementing new things in our lives is always a challenge, which is why it is important for us to be aware of what comes after today's verses:
Colossians 1:11-12 – Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritances of the saints in the kingdom of light. (NIV)
As we are led by the Spirit into deeper areas of maturity in Christ, such as wisdom, endurance, patience, and joyful thanksgiving in all circumstances, we must also learn to rely more and more upon the power of His strength within us. We need His might to have the will to keep growing. We need His strength to apply what we are being taught. And we need His power to help us get up and keep going when we stumble and fall, as we seek to apply these deeper areas of faith in our lives day by day. Such strength comes only as we train our minds daily, before we speak or act, to listen intently for the Spirit's leading within.
For me, cultivating this habit of listening to the Spirit, moment by moment, day by day, has to be intentional each and every day. As the years have gone by, I find that it has become easier, but it is still far from perfect. I stumble in my endurance. But I am thankful that God is always there to pick me up and get me going again. My patience can quickly turn to impatience in new or extremely trying circumstances. However, God patiently convicts and reminds me of the better way to proceed.
I am not always thankful in all situations. Griping and complaining love nothing better than to grab the upper hand when things don't go the way that I had hoped. However, the joy of the Lord never fails to turn me around amid each and every circumstance, as the Spirit reminds me of the truth of Scripture that God is in control and has a plan and a purpose for all that happens.
Thus, much like my granddaughter, my mind soon catches up with my spiritual growth, and my footing once again becomes solid and in sync with the rest of me.
How about you? Have you found yourself stumbling, tripping, and falling over your own spiritual growth these days? If so, stop, listen, and follow the still small voice of His Spirit within you, and soon, you'll be up and on your way again in His glorious strength, might, and power.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, what a wonderful call that You have placed upon our lives, to keep growing in the knowledge of You through Christ. Bless us with the will to look to You in all things, that we might have strength with all power according to Your glorious might, to flourish as we grow in wisdom, endurance, patience, and joyful thanksgiving. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
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Thanks, Lynn. This one hits home!
Another one that so speaks to me! Blessings.
Thanks, Lynne, for challenging us to keep growing in Christ.
Dear Lynne,
What beautiful, helpful thoughts. Thank you.
Thank you, Lynne, for sharing this devotional message with us today. Blessings.
Thanks, Lynne! Oh, Boy! Do I stumble… every day, every hour it seems. We all need the encouragement and assurance you offered today in your devotion.
With appreciation,
(ON)
Dear Lynne,
So meaningful to my time of life. When we pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength, we overcome the obstacles that cause us to stumble. We have many “victories in Jesus.” What blessings.
Greetings Lynne,
Thank you for another powerful devotional. Our heavenly Father is certainly awesome and always there to strengthen us and we need be faithful to wait and listen to His guiding words.
Many blessings to you and have a wonderful day.
(B.C.)
Good Morning Lynne,
I smiled when I read about your two-year-old granddaughter and am wondering how the care giving is going.
My husband has spent considerable time in the hospital this summer…caused me to consider lots of things but I am grateful that never did I doubt the presence of the Lord.
Thank you once more for writing this devotional.
Lynne
Thank you for this devotional.
Due to our health circumstances this year neither of us could do everything we wanted to do. Too often even us clergy can get caught up in the here and now and forget that as we stumble along Jesus is there guiding our steps and helping us to focus on what truly matters our relationship with Him as our Lord and Saviour.
Blessings.
Amen Lynne, what a beautiful message with awesome Verses.
Just like we want our Children to Grow Up, I believe God wants Us to grow up in our faith!
Hi Lynne,
Your messages always strike a chord within me.
Thank you for your clear and encouraging message today.
Blessings.
Dear Lynne,
Thank you or the great words in your prayer and especially:
stop, listen, and follow the still small voice of His Spirit within you, and soon, you’ll be up and on your way again in His glorious strength, might, and power.
Keep writing.
Totally agree.
Hear the voice alright.
Then the Lord sends in the heavy artillery.
A loving cat comes up and gives me a big nuzzle.
The Lord is really sneaky.
Good morning Lynn,
I read your devotional. Good one as usual. I found myself at loose ends, then while walking first thing in the morning I came across Psalm 118: 24, which more or less says, “This is the day of the Lord, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Blessings.
Thank you, Lynne, for being you!
Thank you, Lynne! God bless!