We wisely choose to NOT do things for Pete’s sake, but for the glory of God. AMEN Because the Colossians had faith in Christ, because they were oriented to the grace of God, and because they were tuned into the Holy Spirit, they acknowledge that without Jesus, they could not produce the fruit of love in their lives. What they did possess was advanced and perfect, experiential wisdom. Paul opens his letter with a prayer for God’s grace and peace to be in their lives. Heavenly Father, today we pray that the Holy Spirit fill us with the epignois knowledge of Thy will — with ALL spiritual wisdom and understanding. Ed asked in his study on Colossians: “Are you being conformed into Christ’s image?” Do we define ourselves by what we accomplish, or by what Jesus revealed in us, and what we experience through Him? Our doubts; fears, bitterness, anger, hatred, unforgiveness, envy, confusion, or suspect condition is usually taken to a doctor first, not our Lord. Without consulting the Holy Spirit first, we cannot expect to experience the fullness of God’s plan. Beware of the enemy and all he uses to distract us. Seek first God’s kingdom and He will reveal the truth to anyone earnestly seeking.

WISELY choose to PRAY “Grace and Peace to you.” ❤️ Colossians 1:5-6 “The FAITH and LOVE that spring from the HOPE stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing FRUIT and GROWING throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” ❤️ WHY? Colossians 1:10-14 ❤️ “So that you may live a life WORTHY of the Lord and please HIM in EVERY way: bearing FRUIT in every good work, GROWING in the KNOWLEDGE of GOD, being STRENGTHENED with all POWER according to HIS GLORIOUS MIGHT so that you may have great ENDURANCE and PATIENCE, and giving JOYFUL THANKS to the FATHER, who has qualified you to share in the INHERITANCE of HIS HOLY people in the kingdom of LIGHT. For HE has RESCUED us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the KINGDOM of the SON HE LOVES, in WHOM we have REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of sins.” ❤️

ABOVE ALL POWERS 🙌 Colossians 1:15-18 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN over ALL creation. For in HIM all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, VISIBLE and INVISIBLE, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; ALL things have been created through HIM and for HIM. HE is before ALL things, and in HIM all things hold together. And HE is the HEAD of the BODY, the CHURCH; HE is the BEGINNING and the FIRSTBORN from among the dead, so that in everything HE might have the SUPREMACY.” AMEN

We can freely choose to follow our heart, our intellect, or the gathered knowledge online —and totally miss the Father’s voice and His purpose for our lives “in Christ”. His perfect will for us is made clear in the Scriptures. Jesus came to testify to the Truth, to set the captives free, and to open our eyes to see ourselves in need of being delivered from the prison of our doubts and unbelief. The Holy Spirit can open the eyes of the blind so that they can clearly see what He wills us to see. WHAT our Heavenly FATHER wants us to KNOW? ❤️

Colossians 2:1-12 “I want you to know how hard I AM contending for you.. and for all who have not met ME personally. MY goal is that ALL may be ENCOURAGED in heart and UNITED in LOVE, so that they may have the FULL riches of complete UNDERSTANDING, in order that they may KNOW the MYSTERY of God, namely, CHRIST, ‘in WHOM’ are hidden all the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I AM absent from you in body, I AM present with you in SPIRIT and delight to see how disciplined you are and how FIRM your FAITH in CHRIST is. So then, just as you received CHRIST JESUS as LORD, continue to live your lives ‘in HIM’, ROOTED and BUILT up ‘in HIM, strengthened in the FAITH as you were taught, and OVERFLOWING with THANKFULNESS. See to it that NO ONE one takes you CAPTIVE through hollow and DECEPTIVE philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the ELEMENTAL SPIRITUAL FORCES of this world rather than on Christ. For in CHRIST all the FULLNESS of the DEITY lives in bodily form, and ‘in CHRIST you have been brought to FULLNESS.

Knowing that God has a history of using flawed people to spread the Gospel, He is waiting for us to trust Him and to reach out to touch the lives of those He places in our path. The Holy Spirit abides in us, and He prompts us with a motivation to serve the Body of Christ. Christianity is way bigger than attending church and Bible studies. People can pontificate brilliantly on the theology of God’s Word, but not be willing to admit that their heart is not full enough to overflow and speak the truth about their emptiness. His grace not only forgives us, but His grace enables us to live for something greater than ourselves. Do you admit that there is no higher honor than to be chosen as an instrument of God? Our Father sets people apart for ministry, and our ministry is born out of what He has done in us. When we fully embrace that Jesus bought us, He redeemed us with His blood and that our lives no longer belong to us — we then become a willing participant in His plan to save, equip, train us, and dispatch others into ministry.

“HE is the head over every POWER and AUTHORITY. ‘In HIM’ you were also CIRCUMCISED with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your WHOLE SELF ruled by the FLESH was PUT OFF when you were circumcised by CHRIST, having been buried with HIM in baptism, in which you were also RAISED with HIM through your FAITH in the working of GOD, who raised HIM from the dead.” The Pharisees were blinded by their own understanding. Denial about refusing to SEE is resistance, it is rebellion, it is a form of pride and God hates pride. Sample Wellspring prayers Signed, Sealed Delivered

We are His possession, to the praise of His glory, for His purpose and plan, not ours. Being his chosen, His filled vessels, His Ambassadors, His anointed ones is the greatest privilege on this earth. By His amazing grace, we are His instruments of peace. The idol of self was destroyed on the cross, but selfishness has crept back in. In our selfishness, we get offended, then we hold grudges of bitterness and avoid those who have hurt our pride. Oh, like logs in the eye, we are quick to recognize the selfishness of others, but we deny it in ourselves. When we make life all about us and our rights to live as we please, we have lost sight of our Savior, and His plan and purpose in choosing us. We are the apple of His eye, but we were not knit together in our mother’s womb to emerge and live out our big plans. We are not the center of our life when we invite Jesus into our hearts.

“There is one who accuses you day and night.” In His hometown, after Jesus quoted Isaiah, He offered the hearers the opportunity to be set free, to no longer be held captive in the prison of bitter resentment and pride. The mob rejected the freedom of salvation, then quickly forced the Messiah to the edge of town to throw Him off a cliff. Each day we too must decide if we are willing to throw Jesus and His Word out the window or down the cliff when we are persecuted. Paul in Lystra was left for dead, but Doctor Luke was there praying for his brother in the Lord. We are commanded to pray continually for one another as we live in a broken world. The Prince of the air broadcasts lies and deceptions daily. PRAY to BLESS those brothers and sisters who may have offended you. Satan’s method is OFFENSE and our Father’s DEFENSE from all attacks is FORGIVENESS. Obedience to His word requires us to forgive and love one another.

God is faithful to His Word, when no other voice in the world remains faithful to their words. There are wars and rumors of wars, but the battle for your soul has been going on since Satan was cast down by God for his pride. John 5: 31 – 47  ” If I bear witness of Myself, my witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He says of Me is true. You sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive NOT testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might BE SAVED. John was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.”

“And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And you have NOT His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him you believe NOT. Search the scriptures; for in them you THINK you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And you will NOT come to Me, that you might have life. I receive NOT honor from men. But I know you, that you have NOT the love of God in you. I am come in My Father’s name, and you receive Me NOT: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, which receive honor from one of another, and seek NOT the honor that cometh from God only?  Do NOT think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you believe NOT his writings, how shall you believe My words?” This day, CHOOSE to be a TRUTH SEEKER and WELCOME the opportunity to REPENT and be REFRESHED. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind and hush the voice that is NOT of God. In Jesus mighty name, be ye healed.