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It’s Day 3 of 4 on our journey through the book of Colossians! I hope that as you read, reflect and respond you are growing more in love with our awesome LORD. (Just joining us? No problem! Here are the other WORD CHALLENGE LINKS: Day 1 / Colossians 1 – Day 2 / Colossians 2)
After you finish your reading, take time to reflect and respond on a personal level with the LORD, then let’s discuss the verses that move us most and the lessons that God is challenging us with in His Word in the comments section below. I really, really, really love to hear from you. AND I really, really, really love when you guys encourage one another! (That’s a lot of reallys!)
DAY THREE
READ: Read Colossians 3
REFLECT: Pause to consider how this passage should affect the way you believe and behave. Pray. Journal. Worship.
MY THOUGHTS on COLOSSIANS THREE:
Okay, seriously , we could park on this chapter for a year and still have a million things to learn! How practical and powerful is this?
Stop-me-in-my-tracks verses:
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) I need this reminder constantly! It’s so easy to live as a distracted worshiper.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16) Lord, bring on the wisdom! Help my worship to be led by your Spirit and your truth.
“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18) Yowsa! For Your glory, Lord, please help this stubborn woman be a blessing to my husband as I serve along side of him.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.” (Colossians 3:23)
RESPOND by leaving a comment below. Today – begin by telling us where you live (city, state, country) – then post your favorite verse or share how today’s reading spoke to your heart and spurred you on toward Christ.
A WORSHIP RESPONSE:
Thanks for doing life with me! I love hearing how the LORD moves in you through this challenge. Please share in the comments section. 🙂
Warmly in Christ,
Gwen
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Just joining us? Here are the other WORD CHALLENGE LINKS: Day 1 / Colossians 1 – Day 2 / Colossians 2
Comments 40
Hi Gwen! I’m from London, Ontario,Canada. It’s amazing to me how Colossians seems to be speaking directly to me. Thank you Gwen for being such an obedient worshipper of Jesus Christ and listening to his directions. Chapter 3:1-25 resonates with me as I have been struggling at the foot of the cross and because of Him, His word, prayer and my spiritual guide, your blog, and trying to be grateful, I feel that my spirit has come alive. God Bless You and thank you.
I’m from Winner, SD. I know the only winning is in Christ Jesus! Thanks for the challenge!
I’m from British Columbia, Canada. Thank you for this challenge again. I need some accountability for getting into God’s word. I’ve gotten to the point where do end up dwelling on earthly things, not on heavenly things, things of God. I am terribly distracted, and have a really hard time focusing. Cares of this world, and things that I need to forgive get in my way. Dragging me down, makes me lose my peace. Only when I’m actually getting input more than Sunday morning, from God’s word, do I feel close to Him.
Verse 2 set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth
Verse 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
My Father, forgive me for not setting my sights on You, for letting worldly things, earthly cares, get me away from you. Help me, remind me, to get back into your word again, to search for you, to seek you, So that the peace of God can fill me. Help me know what your peace is, draw me to you again. Teach me forgiveness where there is hurt, so that I can know the freedom and joy that comes with letting go.
Let the peace of God rule in your heart. I always love reading Paul letters, and forgiveness is key word in this chapter for me. I will be honest saying that I have some time struggle with forgiveness or should I say let go of hurt, so I pray on it. I am so grateful that the lord doesn’t judge me for all my sins, and so I must learn to do the same. this is why I must continue to stay prayed up, I love him so much and I want him to know I am willing to work hard for the lord because his love for me. I know that in order to succeed you must have Jesus in your life, and I am so very happy to say when I was working, I always thank him for getting me job and for being an awesome boss. for 18 yrs I made him proud.
I live in Sinton, Tx. I love reading God’s word. And lately I relate to Paul even more so. Because of the tv series AD. I am very attentive to change the way I see my husband and how hard he works and what he does for me.
Pennsylvania!! Well being submissive to my husband hasn’t always been easy, but I do it unto the Lord. I pray I also will be a blessing and help mate to my husband. Yes me too have to set my minds on things above and not this world. I just say I thank you Lord for all the earthly treasures but I don’t love any of them. I just love God. I enjoy them and am very thankful for his blessings, but Jesus is my center. I have to practice this more and more. Thanks Gwen for your love in Jesus. Such a blessing. Your music is mainly what I worship too.
So it comes down to this: since you have been raised with the Anointed One,the Liberating King, set your mind on heaven above. The Anointed is there, seated at God’s right hand. 2 Stay focused on what’s above, not on earthly things, 3 because your old life is dead and gone. Your new life is now hidden, enmeshed with the Anointed who is in God.
Wow! I love this song Gwen. So beautifully written, sung and arranged. Ministered to me greatly. Music always does.
My name is Amy and I live in Allen Texas. My favorite verse was 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
How beautiful is this and what a great message to live a life like Jesus did towards all.
Adaykis! West palm beach fl. I see a lot in my daily walk right now which are on the list of what my old garments were..and little of my new custom made Godly attire..i have been looking down and all about me and missing out on what God is doing! Look up! Set your minds on things above. Where Christ resides. So practical and challenging. Uplifted me as i stood corrected and disciplined and even in a bit of pain as the sword cut deep but its needed. Surgery is needed.
Love that!! 🙂
Good morning…I am Erin H. from Los Banos, CA and these verses spoke to my heart this morning.
Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message translation) So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
What an awesome responsibility we have as believers! Sometimes I feel like I am not even coming close to the mark… But I know that God knows my path and I need to fix my eyes on Him daily and He will direct me! God is good…all the time!
I read it on this version too and took my notes from here. So awesome. Read psalm 63 on The Message!
Hi Gwen, I live in Gaborone, Botswana. This word challenge has opened my eyes anew, I am disovering new truths in the gospel like never before. Our Lord is awesome like that! We continue to give Him honor and praise for He is God, let’s soldier on ladies, awesome stuff….
Hello Gwen ! I live in Newbury Park, California. Thank you so much for bringing this wonderfully powerful walk through Colossians. I seem to struggle as a “distracted worshipper” almost every day, and Col. 3:2- set your minds on things above not on earthly things, is a gentle reminder that I need to make God my center and priority and work the rest of my life around him. The verses Col. 3:12-17 has given me the excitement of motivation to keep in the forefront of my mind, each day, for compassion for my husband, (when we seem to be on opposite sides of views) along with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience in my outlook and thought-process.
Hi Gwen. I am in Ottawa, Ontario ,Canada and am thoroughly enjoying this walk through Colossians. Thanks for suggesting the challenge. Working on putting away the old self and so want to show the love, kindness, gentleness and patience that verse 12 speaks of. What a wonderful reality – I’ve been forgiven!!
Phoenix, AZ…Love all of chapter 3. Verse 4 sums it up for me, “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” It’s our promise and reward…
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” As a believer, my life is Jesus. When I forget this and try to do things in my own strength, I fail. When I completely and utterly rely on Him, the results are far better than anything I could even imagine (let alone do!) on my own. Not only does He walk with me daily here on earth, He promises that one day, I will be with Him in glory!
I loved verses 12-14…..this section reminded me how to “dress my spirit” every day
San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The wonderful concept in verses 9-10 should give us unquenchable hope! “…you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” We are restored to the original design God had in mind when He created man through Jesus Christ! Isn’t that totally awesome? This enables us to live seeking the things that are above (v. 2), and to do whatever we do heartily, as to the Lord and not to men–and as if that were not rich enough, we also get an untarnishable, unperishable inheritance (vv. 23,24) WOW!
My fave chapter in Colossians… Verse 15 I love, especially this reminder in it “and be thankful.” Attitude of gratitude. There are so many nuggets in that chapter. Love it.
And how thankfulness is cultivated. Wow
Gwen, I totally agree with you! We could study this chapter for a whole year!!!
Love Colossians 3!
vs.1 seek the things that are above. Everything else will perish and doesn’t matter!
vs.2 set your minds on things above. Yes!!
vs.12 put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness & patience. Love this! Character of Jesus!
vs.13 forgiving each other. Yes! We’ve been forgiven!
vs.14 above all put on love! ❤
vs.15 let the peace of Christ rule in your heart and be thankful. Only way for peace is from Christ! Be thankful!!! Love this! The remedy for unrest!
Thank you for this eternal discussion!
Hey Gwen! I left my comments on Day 3 on Day 2! COLOSSIANS ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Diane
Mustang, OK, USA. I was so encouraged by the first 2 verses from the Message: So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Long Beach, CA. “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in you hearts………. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, full your lives……” Col. 3:14,15,16 (NLT) There’s a lot to think about in chapter 3. Verse 22 always got to me. I’m a woman of color. And my grandmother told me that this was the verse that was shown to her as a little girl in a not to nice way. But praise God, He makes things right. And when I got married, verse 18 came my way. And praise God, He make things right. I’m been married for 26 years, praise God, He make things right. ;~)
Columbus, GA 🙂 I need to repeat verse 2…set your minds on things above not on earthly things about a billion times a day. I get so caught up with my thoughts & it has been one area that Satan has really attacked me the last several months. God has been teaching me about taking every thought captive and not allowing Satan to control my thoughts with the hurtful, overwhelming and messy parts of this earth. Set your minds on things above…my heavenly Father, sweet Lord Jesus who rescues me from all earthly things!
Also verse 18, oh how I pray the Holy Spirit continue to mold me to be a godly wife that my Lord smiles and delights at!!!!
Verses 12-14 was the perfect reminder in our busyness to love and respect one another, show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and forgiveness.thank you Lord.
Hey ,Gwen. Coming at you from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Liked your description of the ‘distracted worshipper’. A good way to put what I also struggle with although worship is my favourite part of the week and personal worship my greatest blessing. Colossians 3 is chock-full of poignant reminders to me. Beautiful admonitions. It also brings the realization of how every year when we read a text, it becomes that much more meaningful and we can see how far we’ve come in making these truths that were foreign to our nature in earlier years a part of who we are. I can’t choose a favourite from this chapter, there’s too many wonderful verses, and they are all very applicable to life in some way right now, but verse 4- “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” probably packed the most punch today. It gave me a glimpse again of how temporal minded I have become while I try to live and thrive through trials and it opened my mind to be more eternally and heavenly ‘aware’. Love all the references to Lord, Christ, God. Thankful for the ‘word of Christ’ and most of all Christ himself, ‘who is our life’. Love in Him.
Sunnyside WA- vs16-17. GWT says sing to God in your hearts. I try to do this all the time. It helps me focus on The Lord when I’m having a tough time or when I’m doing the mindless, daily chores like dishes or laundry.
Chittenango, New York here. The last 3 days have been particularly hard for me and this morning God spoke to me and said “Get up, get moving, and LOVE all those people woman!” Well, I watched my little 3 year old son with down syndrome get on the bus to preschool for the first time and wept like a baby! Then I looked up and decided to put on that LOVE. It’s so hard when I feel like wallowing in my misery but God has put me here for more than that so I better get to it! Thanks, Gwen, for urging us women onward in Christ and for helping me be the woman He wants me to be.
Stand fast and know that you have a friend in Virginia praying for you. God only gives special needs children to super special parents. You must be an amazing woman with a beautiful compassionate heart! Trust that your son is in good hands.
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, cloth yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness & patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may haveagainst one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 3: 12-14 WOW
I live in Elkins, Wild Wonderful West Virginia!! It is beautiful and I am so thankful for the five senses with which to enjoy it. Went for a short bike ride this morning. Praise God! Colossians 3 makes me so thankful for Holy Spirit Who alone enables us to do all that is required throughout this chapter. 🙂 vss 2 and 3 “Set your affections on things above and not on the earth, for you are dead and your life if hidden with Christ in God!” Glory! Doing this, it seems, would put all this earthly “stuff” in perspective and enable us to live more effectively for the advancement of God’s Kingdom! God bless you all!
Good Morning From KC, MO!!
I just love walking with sisters through the word!
The things that really jumped out to me this morning were ….
“Set Your Hearts On Things ABOVE”
“Set Your Minds On Things ABOVE”
“When Christ, who is your LIFE”
“Let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts”
A very strong reminder to keep that ABOVE the clouds and ETERNAL perspective …. and to always look up because that is where LIFE comes from.
I needed that nudge this morning! : )
Thank you for walking with me!!
I often just work without thinking about serving God. I also needed the reminder about being clothed in gentleness. I often am so in the moment of what I’m doing, that I forget to be kind to others while I’m doing it. Thanks for the gentle reminder. Today, I prayed some of the Colossians verses and asked for forgiveness where I have failed in those areas. It often helps me to pray God’s word back to him!
I often forget when I am working that I am serving God not man and to do my work as if I was doing it unto the Lord! It’s nice to be reminded that you need an attitude adjustment!
Ahh, yes! A reminder to us all. Gotta love the Word… it brings us back around to right thinking. 🙂
I live in Richmond, Virginia.
Over the years I have become dependent on people and things to help me overcome the mental and emotional pain I have suffered. God has been working with me these last several months, teaching me to trust completely in Him for healing and restoration. The old self is stepping down and the new self is emerging. Because of Christs love for me I am able to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. And it is in these moments when I am selfless that the peace of Christ rules in my heart and I am truly set free. I am thankful for His unconditional love and great mercy. I am also very thankful to you, Gwen for taking us through Colossians with you and sharing your music.
Hello Richmond, VA! 🙂 Wow, Tammy. I love what you shared. I sounds like the LORD is doing a beautiful thing in you. Keep moving in that direction. You wear those clothes well, girlfriend.