Colossians 1

Father, I thank you for the gifts of faith, love, purpose, and hope.

Give us a complete understanding of what you want to do in our lives,

and make us wise with spiritual wisdom.

May the way we live always honor and please you.

Grant that we may continually do good, kind things for others

and learn to know You better and better.

We pray that You will strengthen us with Your glorious power so that we will have all the patience and endurance we need.

May we be filled with joy, always thanking You, Father--for You have enabled us to share in the inheritance that belongs to Your holy people who live in the light.

You have rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and You have brought us into the kingdom of Your dear Son.

You have purchased our freedom by Your sacrifice and forgiven all our sins.

You have taken the broken, dislocated pieces of our lives and made us whole.

Help us to spread Your Truth.

Teach us to depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within us.

(Paraphrased from Colossians 1)

Inner Quiet

“I have composed and quieted my soul.” (Psalm 131:2)

It’s early morning and my house is still quiet. No music, no TV, no devices with their incessant dinging. In a few hours, everyone will be up, and my attention will be diverted by many things. Thus, I try to maximize this precious time--to focus. But even when there is very little external noise, the internal chatter continues to distract me. Most of the ruckus is superficial--diversionary prattle that enables me to avoid dealing with the real issues of my soul.

Cultivating a quiet spirit takes practice. External striving must cease in order to care for our inner souls. We must dig deep--not merely scratch the surface. The soil of our hearts must be tilled, clods of misbeliefs broken up, weeds of restlessness removed. Then the good seed of Truth can be planted. As the seedling emerges, it requires nourishment. Water it through prayer; fertilize it with trust; give it plenty of light and space to grow.

At first, the silence might feel unfamiliar. Confronting our inner messiness can be uncomfortable. But we are not alone in this process. The Master Gardener is working alongside us. He wants us to grow and be healthy--for our souls to flourish with peace and contentment. Yet, we have to play our part. We must cover our spirits with stillness, let go of our desire to be in control, and make space for God to do His work in us.

Quieter of the Storm

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39 NLT)

When my mind is agitated, I feel as if a storm is churning inside of me. Waves of emotion surge up, destroying my peace. All sorts of negative thoughts, fears, and worries threaten to drown me. My imagination whips itself into a frenzy of worst-case scenarios. My soul becomes restless and apprehensive. I try all sorts of coping mechanisms, but they rarely work.

Only Jesus can calm the storms in my head. He quiets the voices of confusion and chaos. He reminds me to be still and trust that He is in control. The Holy Spirit soothes me and settles me down. My breathing and heart rate slowly return to normal. My focus shifts from my troubles to God’s presence. The stormy circumstance may still be raging outside of me, but my heart is tranquil as I fix my eyes on Jesus, the Quieter of Storms.

“We experience God’s nearness, blessing, and help not when we are rehearsing our doubts and complaints, but when we are offering up our praises and thanksgiving.” (He’s Been Faithful, Carol Cymbala)

Pastoral Ministry

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” (1 Peter 5:2-4 NLT)

I have always loved the image of our Lord as the Good Shepherd--guiding, protecting, and providing for each of us. Those of us who spend much time in His company know that we are also called to be helpers in this important work. Unfortunately, pastoral caregivers often get caught up in ‘church work’--measuring their success in numbers like the rest of the world. We focus on the visible results instead of internal growth.

Henri Nouwen writes: “When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we become wounded healers.”

Before we can be healers, we must get over the shame of our hidden wounds. We have to allow the Lord to dissect and drain our wounds. This is painful, disabling, and time consuming. It’s tempting to put this procedure off indefinitely. When we submit to God, He takes out anything that can cause further infection, applies soothing salves that bring relief, and bandages up our wounds.

Our role as wounded healers is to accompany others on their inner journey. We guide them more by example than by what we say. Once we learn to navigate our own inner pathways toward healing and wholeness, we can show the way to others.

Abiding Prayer

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 ESV)

How can we abide in God?

When we first approach a house, we walk up the driveway or sidewalk. We may admire the landscaping and the exterior of the house. Then we enter the front porch and knock at the door. Soon, the homeowner opens the door. If you are a salesperson, you stand at the door and try to get what you want. If you are a visitor you may enter the home and spend some time with the resident. However, if you live there with the homeowner, you may use your key to come in. Once home, you put your bags away and relax. This is where you live, eat, commune with your loved ones, and find rest.

Religion often takes us up to the driveways and sidewalks of God’s home. Meditation takes us up to the front porch. Contemplation allows us to enter into the living room. Yet, abiding in the Lord requires us to move all our ‘stuff’ in---our baggage, possessions, dreams, and feelings. And, since we are not the head of this household, we must continually yield to Christ’s authority--living according to His Word.

Abiding with God comes with privileges and responsibilities. We get to share in His work as well as enjoy His company. He talks to us and listens to us. He lets us use His tools of ministry--teaching us how to use them properly. Everything belongs to the Lord. As His children, we are given unlimited access. He doesn’t hold anything back from us. When we live with God, when we rely on Him completely--whatever we ask that is in alignment with His wishes will be given to us.

Healing In the Name of Jesus

“But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’” (Acts 3:6 NLT)

Healing in the name of Jesus--how does this happen? Is it based on the faith of the healer or the one being healed? I don’t know. There doesn’t seem to be a formula or pattern to the miraculous healings in the New Testament.

After the miraculous healing of this crippled man, Peter goes on to explain that this did not happen because of his own power or godliness. The incantation of ‘in the name of Jesus’ was not the cause either. God is always the source and agent of all healing. Peter attributes the miracle to faith in the reputation of Jesus. Peter felt confident in the power of God flowing through him. He trusted Jesus to fulfill His promises. Thus, Peter became a conductor for the Holy Spirit. He was willing to be used for the purposes of God.

“The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it.” (John 14:12-14 MSG)

Good Conductors

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you.” (Luke 1:36 MSG)

What makes a good conductor of heat and electricity? Turns out that it’s all about free electrons. Metals have free electrons that are not strongly attached to the central atom. These free electrons move through metals easily, carrying electricity and heat. Metals are also malleable--their shape may change under pressure, but they don’t break easily. This allows them to be pounded into thin sheets or to be stretched into wire--forms that efficiently conduct energy.

How can we be good conductors of the Holy Spirit? We must detach from our egos. Be yielding and transformable; malleable, yet strong. Our character and our conduct must be conducive to the Holy Spirit. A constant commitment to God carves out a continual path for His Spirit to flow through us. As we align our lives with God’s will, we become conductors for His power.

“And Mary said, ‘Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.’ (Luke 1:38 MSG)