Living The New Life!

Sometimes I wake up and start my journaling and prayer time and I feel all out of things to say. Often, I feel almost guilty about asking for certain things or wanting Father God to fulfill a desire that I have because there are many people who have many more struggles than I could ever imagine. I think about all the people that I have known who have or have had cancer, who have lost children or a spouse or both. People who have lost their jobs and haven't worked in months or even years. Those who struggle to put food on the table and their hearts break because they have to tell their children no they can't play on the basketball team or they can't try out for cheerleading because there isn't money for those things. I sometimes feel guilty because I have so much. No, we aren't rich by any means, not even close, and there are many months when we wonder how we are going to make it until the next payday. However, we do have food on the table every day, clothes on our backs, and shoes to wear. We don't have alot of "extras", but we have enough and my kids get to do some fun stuff too. I have to tell them no many times because there just aren't funds to cover the amount of activity they would do or the things they would buy if we allowed them. But wouldn't we all do that? If we had an unending supply of money, wouldn't we do all the things that we desired? I have never had money to blow, but I can imagine that I would probably not do too well if I did. Teaching our children to understand that we need to be good managers of the money that God has given us is something that is not always easy for them to understand.
Well, back to this morning. I didn't even know where to start in my journaling, prayer time or much less where to read in my bible. I did my journaling more as routine than a time of being with the Father, which is very unusual for me. Towards the end of my time alone with him I asked him to speak to me what He wants me to hear. Somehow I was drawn to Colossians chapter 3. It just amazes me how God will speak to us if we just take the time to listen and follow. In my bible the title at the beginning of chapter 3 in Colossians is "Living the New Life". As I started reading these verses, I realized that I often focus only on the things of this earth. Like this morning, my prayers were for protection for my children, the two here in Haiti and the two that are back in the states . Protection for my husband (crazy man is out sailing in the ocean for 2 days). Prayer for my older daughter as she is still struggling with her tonsils and allergies. Asking for the heat & humidity to not be so bad. And then I realized that my prayers were very shallow. Don't get me wrong, I believe that Father God wants us to share our concerns and desires, but He also wants us to focus on what He has for us, not here on this earth, but the promises of our life with Him. We are new creations in Christ, we have been raised to new life with Him and our sights are to be set on the realities of Heaven not on the struggles of this earthly life. Instead of begrudging the troubles this earthly life brings us, maybe we ought to listen to them. Allow our struggles to remind us that our days here are only temporary. Use these trials to remind us that peace is coming...complete and unending peace. This life on earth is only for a time.
In Colossians 3, it goes on to say that we are to put on our new nature, and be renewed as we learn to know our Creator and become like HIM! And then He tells us exactly what to do starting in verse 12; "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
He goes on with more instruction and I encourage you to go and read all of Colossians chapter 3. There is alot of hope in there and when we are struggling through our trouble's in this life, this passage might help you have a new perspective on the things of the day. It did me!
Everyday, no matter what it holds, is a day that carries us closer to the day our Father will come.