Day Four - Fixing our Minds on Christ

Thank you for joining us again today as we Fix our Minds on Christ. Today is Day 4 in our devotional series on the book of Colossians.

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.  

Colossians 1:13-14 (HCSB)

Who is "He?" 

If we look back at verse 12, we see that the HE mentioned in verse 13 is God the Father. Understand that it’s God the Father doing all the work here. He is the One who fights for us. He is the One who’s power we rely on. We touched on that briefly yesterday. 

In this passage, we learn that it’s God the Father who has done four amazing things for us.

1.  He has rescued us. This means He’s delivered us. He’s taken us out of a dangerous situation, which we’re told is the domain of darkness in the clutches of the evil one who wants to steal, kill and destroy. God has picked us up and rescued us from that.

2.  He has transferred us to the Kingdom of His Son. To transfer means to carry us, to move us, to physically pick us up and transport us from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of His glorious light through Christ Jesus. Even when we’re too beat up, or too broken, or we don’t have the strength to walk out of the dangerous situation on our own it’s the Lord who picks us up and carries us.

3.  He's redeemed us, which means He’s paid the price by giving His Son who died willingly on the cross for us to make sure we have forgiveness of sins.

4.  He's forgiven us. Our debt is paid. We no longer owe what we’re indebted to. We have fallen short. We have sinned and there is a price to be paid for that. Jesus Christ by His blood on the cross said, “I will pay that for my beloved children. That work is finished. It’s done. It’s over.

These are amazing Scriptures. Cling to them today. When you walk this out, very similar in nature to our challenge for yesterday, I want you to embrace them as your own.

I heard a song for the first time the other day that said, “Go ahead and live like you’re loved.” What if you knew that you were loved, if you knew you were rescued, that you were redeemed and forgiven? What if you knew the price had been paid, that you were no longer enslaved to sin? Would you live differently?

Live it out today. That’s my challenge for you today. Go ahead and live like you’re loved.

Be strengthened today, by His Word and I’ll see you right back here tomorrow.

To watch the video devotion, click here.

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.  Click here to purchase.

Day Three - Fixing our Minds on Christ

I'm excited you've joined us! We’re about to crack into one of my top 10 verses in all of Scripture.  It’s Colossians 1:9-12

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we have not stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints inheritance in the light. 

Colossians 1:9-12

This passage makes me say, "I want that!"

When my daughter was a little girl of 2 or 3 years old, she’d be playing in the living room with her toys and I’d have the television on.  When a commercial would come on and the cheerful music would start, it would capture her attention. She would stop whatever she was doing and become entranced by the commercial.  When the commercial was over, she’d look at me and say, “I want that.”

When I read this passage, I say to the Lord, “I want that!”  I want to be filled with the knowledge of His will, with all spiritual wisdom and understanding so I can walk in a manner that is fully pleasing to Him. Those are beautiful traits. I’ve prayed for them for many years – for myself, for my family, for my church, for my ministry partners, basically, everyone I know. May God fill us all with knowledge of His will, with all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we can walk in a manner pleasing to Him.

What comes next is another treasure: Imagine yourself walking and strengthened by God’s power according to his glorious might, with His endurance, with His patience, with His joy, knowing He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of saints. There are rich, beautiful promises expressed in this passage. 

Earlier in our devotional series, we talked about being called – having a job or a Kingdom assignment to do for the Lord. This verse tells us is that we needn't walk in our own strength to accomplish that assignment. When God asks us to do something, when He prompts us in our hearts to do something for His Kingdom, He gives us everything we need. We can be strengthened according to His glorious might. So when we feel as if we don't have what it takes, we can trust that God will provide all we need.

Today's Challenge: 

My challenge for you today is this: determine if this is something you want. Do you want to walk in this manner for the Lord? I do. I want that.

If you do, ask the Lord for it. Simply pray this scripture back to Him. Ask, “Lord, please give me all knowledge of your will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding.” 

Ask for the things you want. Over the years, I have seen Him answer in a variety of ways. I know that He will answer you too. These are things the Lord wants to give to each one of us freely and generously. Will you embrace them? Will you take them on?

When you walk to serve the Lord day by day and shine for Christ. Will you know that He’s given you everything you need?

Be blessed today, be encouraged in His Word, be strengthened by His Word. I’ll see you back here tomorrow as we fix our minds on Christ.

To watch the video devotion, click here.

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.  Click here to purchase.

Day Two - Fixing Our Minds on Christ

Thanks for joining us as we continue to fix our minds on Christ through daily devotions through the book of Colossians. This is Day 2 and we'll cover Chapter 1, verses 3 through 8.

We always thank God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognized God’s grace in the truth. You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow slave. He is a faithful servant of the Messiah on your behalf, and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.   

Colossians 1:3-8 (HCSB)

There are some great, practical takeaways in this section of Scripture. First, Paul emphasizes three words that are familiar to us: Faith, hope, and love. Faith in Jesus Christ, hope that’s reserved for us in heaven and love that we have for the saints. And it’s not just the love we have, but love that we receive from the Spirit.

Now love is a difficult thing. Sometimes people are hard to love, but when we rely on the love that bubbles up from the Holy Spirit that lives within us, we will be better able and equipped to love others.

I hope you to take some encouragement knowing that this verse tells us that the gospel is bearing fruit and growing all over the world. Sometimes we look at the world and see darkness. We start to lose our hope and lose our focus, but this verse is a reminder. God’s Word is alive and active and it pertains to today. It reminds us that the gospel is growing and spreading all over the world. We can take hope in that – the hope that’s reserved for us in heaven.

Challenge #1

We see Paul's heartfelt gratitude as he launches into his prayer over the Colossians. He says, “We always thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for you.”  So here are your challenges for today:  

When you feel thankful, don’t keep it to yourself. Express your gratitude. Tell somebody. Write it down in a prayer journal or gratitude journal. Share it on Facebook or whatever you need to do to express it. Do more than just feel it. Experience it. Enjoy it. 

Challenge #2

Also, stand firm in your faith and your hope and your love. If you find that you’re lacking in any of these areas – and believe me I find I am often lacking in these areas – ask the Lord to fill you to capacity with what He has for you.  Our faith, our hope, our love come from the Spirit that lives within us. God alone can help us best express them.

Remember to pray for your church families, pray for your physical families and remember to give gratitude where gratitude is due. Show you thanks to others.

Be blessed today. Thanks for stopping by and joining us.

To watch the video devotion, click here.

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.  Click here to purchase.

Day One - Fixing Our Minds on Christ

Welcome back!  This is Day One of our Colossians Devotion where we’ll fix our minds on Christ.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother: To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers. Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 

Colossians 1:1-2 (HCSB)

Golden Nuggets Hidden in the “Insignificant” Verses

I know a woman who would refer to verses like this as “insignificant Bible verses.” She didn’t feel there was much to be learned, but I beg to differ. I think we learn some golden nuggets right here in the first two verses of Colossians. 

First, we see that Paul refers to himself as an Apostle. When we think of the term Apostle, we think it’s a high and lofty position. The word actually means one sent forth with orders, one who is a delegate, or an ambassador, in Paul’s case, for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We may not think of ourselves as apostles, but I can tell you that the Lord has a job for you and for me. We all have Kingdom work to do. So we need to seek the Lord in that and ask Him, “Lord, what’s my mission for you today? How would you have me be Your apostle?”

The next point I’d like to emphasize is that Paul talked about Timothy and the saints at Colossae as His brothers. This shows that the Lord values unity. Paul valued unity as well. Unity is tremendously important if we are going to accomplish the Lord’s work.

Do you think of your brothers and sisters in Christ as just that or others who are just people “out there?” Do you feel that you’re in the same army fighting for the same cause and the same purpose? Or is there something that has you dis-unified and butting heads with one another? Think about this in your families as well as in your churches.

Challenge #1

My challenge for you today is to pray specifically for the unity of your church. Ask the Lord if there is anything that you personally are doing that breeds disunity within your congregation. Chances are very good He’ll impress upon you that all is well and you’re doing okay. That’s wonderful. But if He pricks your heart, if He prompts you in some way, listen to that. Turn from it. Fix it. Go develop unity within your church family.

We face an enemy who wants to destroy and tear us down. When we pose a unified front, we are demolishing strongholds of the enemy in Jesus' name. So let’s walk in unity in our church families and in our relational families as well.

Challenge #2

Lastly, we see how Paul encouraged the saints with His words. Seek the Lord and ask Him who He’d have you encourage today. Who needs an encouraging word? Who needs an uplifting text or email or Facebook post? Ask who you can lift up with your words today? Then do it.

Thank you for sharing in today’s devotion. Tomorrow we’ll cover the next few verses of Colossians as we fix our minds on Christ. Please meet me right back here.

To watch the devotional video, click here. 

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.  Click here to purchase.

Introducing... Our Daily Colossians Devotions!

Believe me, I know how busy you are. I know I’m addressing working moms who are raising kids and working full time outside the home. I'm writing for those who chase toddlers around the house all day and love it.  I hope to encourage you, college student, who may be working two or even three jobs just to pay the bills.

I know, in this season of life, how tricky it can be to get into God’s Word every single day. But I also know the beauty of God’s Word and how we need it for ammunition to stand firm, resist the enemy and shine for Christ in our day.

Get God’s Word In You so it can Shine Through You

No matter how busy we are, we each have assignments from the Lord and we are called to do His work here on earth. The best way to accomplish this is to get a daily dose of God’s Word. At Strengthened by the Word Ministries, we’ve designed a series of short, sweet devotional messages. We’ll cover a small handful of verses every day and provide you something you can watch or read while you’re putting on your makeup, while you’re enjoying your first cup of coffee, or eating breakfast.

We want to help you get God’s Word in you so that it can shine through you throughout the rest of your day. I pray that you will meet us right here every day this month as we walk through the book of Colossians and fix our minds on Christ.

Paul's Purpose

Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. He was writing to address what he’d heard was going on in Colossae, which was the influence of false teaching. You might say to yourself, “I don’t need to worry about false teaching. I’m in a strong, Bible-believing church.” I commend you for choosing a strong church. But I bet you have access to the Internet or the news media. We all know there is false information that is reported. We can’t believe everything we see on the Internet or see on the news. While I’m not accusing anyone of trying to deceive or put out false information, we see that sometimes reporters don’t do quite enough research before they put out a news story. We all know that sometimes people make up information and share it on the Internet.

Put Christ First and Everything Else Falls Into Place

We don’t want to be swept away by lies but stand firm in the truth. Paul wrote to the saints at Colossae so they would be reminded that Christ is sufficient. Christ is the source of our truth. Christ is the One in whom we place our focus and worship. Everything falls into place when we put Christ first.

The book of Colossians has become one of my favorite books of the Bible because Christ is so evident. His majesty unfolds through the words that Paul used as he wrote this letter.  I’m excited to think that you’ll join me here each day as we walk through this inspirational book. Meet me right here tomorrow as we look at Colossians 1:1-2.

To watch the devotional video click the image below. 

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.  Click here to purchase.