Colossians 1 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
As I close out 2012 to enter into 2013, my question to myself would be the same as Paul’s prayer for the church at Colossia and my prayer for you. Am I walking worthy of the Lord unto His great pleasure? Am I growing in my knowledge of Him? Am I through the strength of His might and glorious power laboring for Him with all patience and longsuffering with Joyfulness? Or do I continue to try to carry every burden myself and with heaviness of heart and long face murmur as did the children of Israel in the wilderness? Do I stand firm upon my faith in His Future Grace and rejoice in whatever suffering may be in my path; knowing that the Creator of the Universe suffered and died for my sins, that I might be delivered from darkness and have the full light of the Gospel shine into my heart with the power to overcome these trivial afflictions that occur on this earth? Do I begin to comprehend the magnitude of the fact that "16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." He has omnipotent power over everything and by thus He has omnipotent power over every detail of my life? Let us all remember this great salvation which He has provided and rest fully upon His Grace for today and for the Future Grace which has promised to all who believe that we will one day be fully transformed into the image of Christ. Let us continue to seek His strength to labor because of our overwhelming love and devotion for Him. Look around you, the fields are white with harvest. Whose eternal destiny might be changed today because they see Christ in you? Who will be drawn to Christ while they see you filled with the peace and joy of God no matter what your circumstances. Finally, are we walking worthy of the Lord unto His great pleasure?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q5L0G3-L1w