Jennifer A

As believers, when we turned our lives over to Jesus, through salvation, our decision included leaving our sinful nature behind, fully trusting Jesus, and walking forward in the freedom of the new life that only Jesus could offer us. In Psalm 37, King David reflected as an older man on his life. He could see that God’s grace, mercy, justice, and faithfulness were there for him all along. In this place of mature wisdom, David understood that he did not need to be fearful, anxious, or angry throughout his life. Rather, all he needed was to rest patiently in the freedom he had in Christ, and to trust that God’s grace, mercy, justice, and faithfulness would bring God’s loving righteousness to Him and to all of God’s Family. This same divine revelation that King David had is the same Truth that exists for us as believers. Like David, the freedom we have in Christ releases us from the anxieties, fear, and anger of this world, and as we rest in Christ, in that trusted stillness we can receive what we need from God.

This week I am finishing up, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Peter Scazzero. It’s a required book for one of my college courses. In yesterday’s devotion I talked about spending quiet time with the Lord, and that came as a result of Chapter 6 – Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath. Scazzero encourages believers to incorporate the Daily Office and Sabbath into our weekly routines. The Daily Office is not mentioned by name in the Bible, rather the foundational principle is mentioned throughout Scripture. It’s setting daily time with the Lord. Some call it Divine Office, Fixed Hour of Prayer, Daily Prayer, etc. It’s the principle that David reminds us of in today’s passage, that we are to “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act” (v.7). The Daily Office equips us to stop several times through each day to rest in the Lord, to be silence so we can hear from the Holy Spirit, to be one with Scripture so we can receive Truth, and to commune in prayer with, Jesus, the One Whom we are waiting patiently to act on our behalf. The Sabbath offers us the same, just a longer period of time in oneness with God, the One Whom created us and rested Himself. I am not here to tell you how, when, where, and the length of time you are to do your Daily Offices and/or Sabbath but having incorporated both this past week into my life as a required part of a college course, has actually brought a greater oneness with the Lord.

Psalm 37 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1 Don’t worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the freedom that we have in You. Help us to find time each day where we can be still with You. This world is hectic, but You are our peace. We want to be in Your presence, Jesus, where we can rest in You. We trust You with our lives. Please continue to release our fears, anxieties, and anger. We want to patiently wait on You and Your faithful work in and through each one of us, and all around us. Holy Spirit, draw us deeper in oneness with You. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

February 02, 2026

Hi Friends, it’s Jen Auer. Pastor Mary has graciously extended the opportunity for me to write our devotions through Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after which time she will pick back up and begin a Lenten devotional series.

As many of you know, I am back in college at SEU, and part of my studies this week required me to spend some quiet time each day with the Lord. When I say quiet, I mean absolutely no noise or movement so that the Spirit could clear my soul, my mind, will, and emotions, so I could be fully present with the Lord. During my time with the Lord, I kept placing my heart before Him in gratitude for the freedom I now have in Christ. It truly is a miracle that as believers our sins are forgiven by our faith in Christ Jesus, and we are now reconciled with God, our Creator. Every believer is a new creation through their freedom in Christ. This freedom allows us to live in oneness with God as we welcome the guidance of the Holy Spirit to direct us on the path that God has for us. His plan is the highest and best for each one of us.

Through these devotions, I will follow the lectionary, and I will seek for the Holy Spirit to connect us to our Biblical brothers and sisters as we look at their freedom in Christ. We must remember, we are all offered the same freedom in Christ, and when we accept that freedom, we are offered the same Holy Spirit to guide and direct our path. Keep in mind, we are either accepting and welcoming God’s guidance and direction, or we are rejecting it.

Let’s begin with Philemon. We are looking at the entire book of Philemon today, as it is the third shortest book in the Bible with only 1 chapter that contains 335 words. The Apostle Paul is writing to Philemon from prison. Philemon lived in Colossae; he was wealthy and he owned Christian slaves. Onesimus was a slave of Philemon who had escaped and ended up in prison with Paul. We see how Paul wants to send Onesimus back to Philemon upon his releasee, only this time Paul is directing Philmon, by the Holy Spirit, to forgive Onesimus for escaping, and to welcome him back now as a beloved brother in Christ.

We can find ourselves in the position of each of these three men. Like Paul, the freedom we have in Christ directs us to help others see Christ within their lives and within the lives of others. Like Onesimus, the freedom we have in Christ changes who we once were, and we seek for others to accept and welcome that change. Like Philmon, the freedom we have in Christ guides us to choose forgiveness over selfishness, and reconciliation with our brothers and sisters over social pressures. The freedom in Christ within these Biblical brothers, and within ourselves, guides us to sacrificially love and directs us to seek forgiveness that restores relationships. Grab a hold of your precious freedom in Christ today and seek to share it with others.

Philemon (NLT)

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.

I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.

10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!

20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.

Paul’s Final Greetings

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.

25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the freedom You offer each one of us who call on Your Name. Thank You for opening our spiritual hearts to the Truth that we witness through Paul, Onesimus, and Philmon. May their examples of faith guide us to love more like You, to forgive more like You, and to seek to restore relationships more like You, Jesus. May our lives today, reflect the freedom You have so graciously offered to us, Jesus, so others may be drawn to You. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, as I grow closer to Jesus, I find myself wanting more of the rest that only He can offer me, and it goes far beyond physical rest. In this place of resting in the Lord, my heart needs to be fully connected to Him, as I submit every aspect of my life into His care. I must have faith that He will overshadow my fears, peace that removes my self-control, and trust that He will guide my life.

The writer of today’s passage from Hebrews uses the theme of God’s rest to both warn and encourage believers. Several times throughout the passage, the writer reflects on Psalm 95:7-11 and reminds us that despite hearing God’s voice and experiencing His miraculous provision, Israel did not remain faithful to God, and as a result of their disobedience their hearts grew cold, and they missed out on God’s promised rest.

Today we need to really press into our faith and allow the Word to open our spiritual ears so that we can truly hear God’s voice. We cannot stop at hearing God’s voice; we must respond to Him with open hearts that are willing to walk out His call on our lives.

Hebrews 3:7 – 4:11 (NLT)

7 That is why the Holy Spirit says,

“Today when you hear his voice,
8 don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled,
when they tested me in the wilderness.
9 There your ancestors tested and tried my patience,
even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
10 So I was angry with them, and I said,
‘Their hearts always turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 15 Remember what it says:
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled.”

16 And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? 18 And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him? 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

Promised Rest for God’s People

4 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,

“In my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest,’”

even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4 We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”

6 So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”

8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for providing us with Your rest. Holy Spirit, please help each one of us to hear Your voice and to respond quickly by faith. We want our hearts to remain soft to Your Word, we want our faith to be obedient, and we want to grow in our trust in You. Your rest and peace are what each of us wants for our lives, both now and for eternity. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, our greatest joy is found in just how much we trust God and allow His guidance for our lives.

In Psalm 32, David reminds us that true joy can only come from the Lord. Within this powerful psalm we witness David’s expression of great relief that came from the Lord’s forgiveness of his sins. Think about the weight that David carried from attempting to hide his sins from the Lord. David had an affair with Bathsheba, he murdered her husband, Uriah, who was one of his loyal soldiers, and he attempted to cover it all up (2 Samuel 11). David initially refused to acknowledge his sins, and he described the torment he experienced until he finally confessed, and the Lord graciously forgave him.

Friends, when our sins seem too weighty to carry, we need to remember that God’s grace is so much greater. David reminds us within today’s passage that all we need to do is come with honest hearts before the Lord, humbly confess our sins, and ask Him to forgive us. It is within this liberated place from sin that then we can hear, see, and receive more clearly from the Holy Spirit, and allow God’s guidance to lead our path. We must also remain obedient to God’s Word. Remember, the world is rebellious to God’s Word and enjoys lawlessness, but we are faithful to follow His Word and within this place God can use us to lead others into His loving arms.

Psalm 32 NLT

A psalm of David.

1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your forgiveness. Help each one of us to come humbly to confess our sins to You. Holy Spirit, please shine a light on the areas of our lives that need to change. We do not want to hide anything from You. We want to live as one with You, Jesus, and to not carry sin. Your joy is what each of us wants, and we know that comes as we are cleansed by You of our sins. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, our faith is directly connected to our obedience to God and to His Word! Pastor Mary often says that “Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith” and that means that our faith is a big deal with God.

In today’s passage, the writer of Hebrews uses some of the Biblical Heroes of Faith to remind us of what Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah did, because we too need to be great examples (or heroes) of faith. These Biblical brothers and sisters lived by faith, not by their own physical sight, but rather by God’s spiritual sight and His guidance. They believed in God and His Word to navigate in the Spirit, because within the physical realm things seemed impossible, but by their faith, and with God all things were possible.

Friends, with God, all things are possible for us too. Even when moments seem bleak, we must press into our faith, remain obedient, and patiently trust and wait on God to unfold what He has for us. Within the first verse of today’s passage, we find the Biblical definition of faith, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” This means that our faithfulness to God requires that we are obeying His Word for every aspect of our life. Thus, we cling to the reality of our hopeful faith in Christ Jesus and submit our souls to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In this faithful place we disconnect from this physical/temporal realm (earth) and we become more and more connected to our Eternal Home (in Heaven) with God.

Hebrews 11:1-12 (NLT)

Great Examples of Faith

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the perfect example of faith. We want to be like our Biblical brothers and sisters of faith. Holy Spirit, help us to grow in our obedience to You and to Your Word. We want to be champions of faith for You not only so that we trust You with our lives, but also so that You can use us to extend Your love to others. We want to help grow Your Kingdom and leave a legacy that is all about You, Jesus. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, if we are being completely honest, there is not one of us who has never felt the need to defend ourselves. So, when we go to defend ourselves, do we seek for God’s guidance? There are many places throughout the Word where God permits self-defense from both physical and/or spiritual danger, but His Word always guides us to defend with wisdom, restraint, and righteousness, through the Holy Spirit, Who does not harm others, but guides our souls (minds, wills, and emotions) and hearts with love and never with revenge.

Prior to today’s passage Stephen was falsely accused of blaspheming God, Moses, the Law, and the Temple. In today’s passage, Stephen begins his defense, as he is on trial before the Jewish council of approximately 70 Pharisees and Sadducees (High Priests). Stephen had been performing miracles, and most likely healings, and all in Jesus’s Name. Men were paid to spread lies about Stephen to stop him and to get him on trial. Our passage reveals how the Holy Spirit moved through Stephen to give a defense, and what better way than to walk them (the High Priests) through the early history of Israel. Stephen confronts the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) and demonstrates how Jesus is their Deliverer Whom they rejected. He talks about God’s covenant with Abraham and how from the very beginning, Israel, was God’s chosen people who continued to be disobedient instead of remaining faithful.

Friends, Jesus is our Deliverer, and we need to remain faithful to Him, obedient to His Word, and be willing to defend His Holy Name.

Acts 7:1-8 (NLT)

Stephen Addresses the Council

1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?”

2 This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. 3 God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ 4 So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live.

5 “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet. 6 God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 7 ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’

8 “God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.

Prayer: Jesus, help us to remain faithful to Your Word, and to be willing to defend You. Holy Spirit, guide us to be more like Stephen, and to have faith and trust like Abraham. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

There are many things that stand out to me when I think about Pastor Mary’s teachings. However, one thing that I absolutely love is how she makes sure that we understand the fear of the Lord and the importance it has on our current faith walk and our walk into eternity with Jesus.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds Israel, the fear of the Lord is what brings good things to a nation, to God’s people. God is sovereign, faithful, and He protects His people. But God’s people must acknowledge that He is their God, and they must humble themselves and fully trust Him.

Friends, we are God’s people, we must trust Him and place all our hope in Him as His unfailing love truly does surround each one of us. Remember, God watches over you and me because we fear Him, our hearts are fully submitted to Him and we love Him beyond what our words can ever express.

Psalm 33:12-22 (NLT)

12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

13 The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
14 From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
15 He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.

18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
19 He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.

20 We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.

Prayer: Jesus, please forgive us for we have not always trusted You, and when we’ve leaned on our own understanding. We need You, Jesus, to be our hope and our shield, today, and every day after, until we come face-to-face with You. Thank You for being all that we need, Jesus. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

If you were not able to join us for worship on Sunday, we looked at Luke 12:13-21 which was Jesus’s Parable of the Rich Fool. We know that Jesus was most likely teaching in an outdoor public setting in Judea, as He was on His way to Jerusalem, and a man asked Him to settle a dispute over an inheritance. Jesus refused and He warned against choosing earthly greed over a rich relationship with God. We talked about how earthly inheritances include money, property, assets, etc. and these are all things that are temporal and fleeting. We also talked about how a heavenly inheritance includes spiritual blessings that are passed on from God to His people as God always fulfills His promises, and His spiritual blessings are eternal, and they last forever.

Today’s passage follows Sunday’s passage. Jesus had just finished the Parable of the Rich Fool, and now we see that He is talking to His disciples. Friends, please keep in mind that Jesus’s message is the same today for you and me as it was for the disciples that walked with Him almost 1,900 years ago. We are Jesus’s disciples, and He does not want us to worry about anything. Jesus illustrates how God cares for the birds and flowers, to help us understand that God cares for all of His creation, which includes you and me. Jesus does not want us to chase after the securities of this world, as they are fleeting; rather, He wants us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and to trust God with all of our needs. Fully trusting in God and resting in His hands as we pursue His plan for our lives is the highest and best for each one of us. So, let’s try and do that today with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:22-31 (NLT)

Teaching about Money and Possessions

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Prayer: Jesus, help us to not worry, but to trust in You. We know that You have our highest and best interest at heart, yet we allow worry to creep in. Forgive us, and help us to rest in You, to trust in You, and to fully submit to You. Holy Spirit, help us to seek God’s Kingdom first, and allowing everything else that we need to be provided by You. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Paul wrote his Letter to the Colossians while he was imprisoned. He knew that false teachings were threatening the Church. So, we see that the first portion of his letter (Chapters 1 and 2) emphasizes Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency. He wants believers to understand that we are complete in Christ Jesus. In the second, and final, portion of Paul’s letter (Chapters 3 and 4), he no longer focuses on doctrine but wants to provide believers with ways of practical Christian living.

Today’s portion of Paul’s letter includes his final instructions for our Christian lives. First, Paul talks about our devotion to prayer. Notice how he specifies that we are to pray with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Paul is instructing believers to connect with the Holy Spirit in prayer, meaning we are to attentively pray with gratitude and intention. God deserves our undivided attention, our entire heart, and our time with Him should be meaningful, not distracted and routine.

Next, Paul asks the Church to pray for him and his team so that God will give them many opportunities to speak about Jesus. Even from prison, Paul is focused on spreading the Gospel message about Christ Jesus and His eternal love. Paul’s example means that you and I should certainly have no problems sharing the Gospel message.

Finally, Paul guides the Church not to be weird, uninviting, disinterested, disassociated, etc. with non-believers. Rather, we are called to live wisely amongst non-believers, making the most of every opportunity that Jesus places within our time together. We are to be loving, gracious, meaningful, truthful, and attractive (meaning our interactions are seasoned with salt) so that non-believers are attracted to Jesus within us and want His light and are eager to learn more about Him and from Him.

Colossians 4:2-6 (NLT)

An Encouragement for Prayer

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for helping us to remain devoted to You in prayer. We want our prayer time to deepen so that we are growing closer to You and able to witness how we can pray more diligently for others. Holy Spirit, we need Your wisdom to guide our interactions with non-believers. Help us to led with Your grace and love in our actions, in-actions, speech, etc. Open doors for us today, so we can share about Your love, Jesus. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

In Psalm 127, Solomon challenges us to consider wisely where we are placing God within every relationship that we have and in every circumstance that we face. If God is not the Builder of our house (our hearts), our relationships and circumstances are meaningless. With God as the Builder of all things, He watches over all things, and He is the One who gives all things. So, when we try and take over the building, the watching, and/or the giving, we are doing it all for nothing.

Friends, think about how God allows each of our physical systems to operate even while we are sleeping, providing all that is needed to sustain our physical lives. So, why is it that we do not trust Him to provide all that is needed to sustain our physical lives when we are awake? Far too often we attempt to take control, rather than rest in our Builder’s Hands and to trust Him.

As you read Psalm 127, these words were written for the community of Israel as they made their way up to Jerusalem and to the temple, reminding them (and us) of God’s covenant promise to His people and His many blessings. We know from history that we must have faith and trust in God to build, watch, and give us each what we need. Let’s surrender to the Builder today and step back to witness all that He has planned when we rest and trust Him.

Psalm 127 (MSG)

1-2 If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the plans that You have for our lives. Help us, Lord, to submit our own will in order to allow Your will to be done in and through our lives. We want to walk out the plan that You have designed especially for us, because we know that it is the best plan. Please forgive us for not always trusting in Your plan for our lives. Help to bring us closer, each day, to walking out Your plan. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.