Reflective Thinking

The last few weeks have been particularly joyous for me. I celebrated a six-month anniversary with my girlfriend, Rachel last Saturday. Facetiously, the date was easy to remember because it coincides with my birthday. I know, I'm a guy. Anything to make things easier in the relationship department, right?

One of the keys that has improved our relationship has been a greater emphasis on bible study and prayer. A few weeks ago, I read in a One-Year devotional about Colossians 1:9-14. The author, Gary Chapman, suggested using this as an intercessory prayer for your loved one (okay, he said spouse, but let's not put the cart before the horse just yet. I'm learning to "walk slow"). So, Rachel and I spent a week praying these verses over each other. What a difference! During that time, we both refocused on scripture. She's begun here winter bible study at First Baptist Shawnee, and I've been involved with some students going through the book of Galatians. Furthermore, I think our "Parade of Churches" is over. At the last church we visited, we heard a sermon about John 15, where Jesus says, "If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you." (John 15:7) While it is not a promise of prosperity, it is a promise about bearing the fruit found in Galatians 5:22-24.

Also, I was challenged to be more an encourager for Rachel. That has also given me a renewed desire to search the scriptures because I've got a goal to find scripture that provides encouragement for Rachel. I find that as I do that for her, it motivates me to set my, "mind on things above and not on earthly things". (Colossians 3:2) It never ceases to amaze me at how faithful God is to his children when we intentionally involve ourselves in scripture.

Lastly, Dear Reader, I invite you to pray Colossians 1:9-14 over someone God brings to mind for you. Do this for a week, and I guarantee that you will see a difference in their life and in your life. Here it is:

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, 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 inheritance of the saints 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.