Category: Emotions

Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV) – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

“In Colossians 3:2 Paul moves from motivation to thought and will, challenging us to ‘think’ or ‘set our minds on’ the new heavenly realities. This includes our mindset and thought life but goes beyond them to the motivations that shape the way we live. We will determine to emulate the mind of Christ and let it guide our thoughts and their resultant actions (Rom 15:5; Phil 2:5; 1 Pet 4:1)—a transformation the Spirit will accomplish within us when we allow him to ‘renew our minds’ (Rom 12:2) and fill us with heavenly priorities instead of mundane earthly pursuits.” [Grant Osborne, Colossians & Philemon Verse by Verse]

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us as your church to set our minds and hearts on your kingdom reality and your purpose and plan being done in us. Strengthen the desires of our hearts for this and align our ways accordingly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship in singing the song “Pray” by Worship Central. (Click Here)

– TR

 

Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT/NIV) – Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Every circumstance in life can be greeted with joy, but only ‘in the Lord,’ given that many situations are, in themselves, anything but joyous. Note the emphasis on rejoicing always. In any and every situation, the presence and involvement of the Triune Godhead calls for joy, because the Lord is in charge and is overseeing each circumstance to bring about good in the end (Rom 8:28).

“It is not our situation but the presence of God that determines the joy we feel. Like Paul, we are called to greet all the vicissitudes of life not with a weary sigh (though sometimes we just can’t help it!) or an angry shout, but with songs of joy—for no matter the situation, we are ‘in the Lord,’ and all will be right in the end.” [Grant Osborne, Philippians Verse by Verse]

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for all that you have done. May I seek to be in your ever-near presence, always rejoicing in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship in singing the song “Take All of Me” written by Hillsong, played by AMC Music Team. (Click Here)

– TR

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)
As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
^5/11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

“As the psalm proceeds we see that the phrase ‘I will yet praise him’ (verses 5 and 11) is not a mere prediction of change but an active exercise. When we are discouraged, we listen to the fearful speculations of our hearts. ‘What if this happens?’ ‘Maybe it’s because of that!’ Here instead we see the psalmist not merely listening to his troubled heart but addressing it, taking his soul in hand, saying, ‘Remember this, O soul!’ He reminds his heart of the loving things God has done (verse 6–8).” [Timothy Keller, The Songs of Jesus]

We too can say, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” because we really do have that hope that God can and will change all things.

Prayer: Father, teach me to put my hope in you and praise you amid what I may be going through and how I feel about it all. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship in singing the song “Mighty God (Another Hallelujah)” written by Elevation, played by AMC Music Team. (Click Here)

– TR

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

“… As a result of his incarnation: he [Jesus] has endured every kind of temptation and so can help us in our own weaknesses. Thus we can have complete confidence in his enabling presence… He has the power to help us triumph… he knows everything we’re going through.

“Since Jesus has gone through everything, we must endure, and because he both understands our struggles and helps us overcome them, we can ‘approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.’ ‘Approach’ or ‘draw near’ is a key term in Hebrews for worship and prayer. This means we can boldly approach God in prayer and expect the empowering presence we need. We are completely confident that he will hear and respond with the strength we lack.” [Osborne & Guthrie, Hebrews: Verse by Verse]

Prayer: Lord, I turn to you today for your help and hope. In every circumstance and in how I feel, help me behold you so I can live and love in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship in singing the song “Behold (Then Sings My Soul)” written by Hillsong, played by AMC Music Team. (Click Here)

– TR

Let’s read aloud together the following Scripture, quote, and prayer:

Psalm 95:1-7 (ESV)
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    and the sheep of his hand.

J.I. Packer, Knowing God
“So the love of God who is spirit is no fitful, fluctuating thing, as human love is, nor is it a mere impotent longing for things that may never be; it is, rather, a spontaneous determination of God’s whole being in an attitude of benevolence and benefaction, an attitude freely chosen and firmly fixed. There are no inconstancies or vicissitudes in the love of the almighty God who is spirit.”

Prayer: God Almighty, let us come into your presence today with all our emotions, affections, and thoughts bowed down before you. And may they align with your purpose and plan afresh. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship by singing to “House of the Lord” by Phil Wickham. (Click Here)

– TR