Colossians 4: 5-6

Be wise is the way you act toward outsiders;

make the most of every opportunity.

 Let your conversation be always full of grace,

seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

   Colossians 4: 5-6

Well, that's pretty direct. To me, this says that every single time I get that chance, I need to be wise and graceful... showing others that way of Christ. I haven't journaled in a while, simply for being lazy. but I feel as if spending this time with God will help me build my faith. I know that I serve a great and Mighty God, but I also know that I have been leukwarm in my faith. so let's crank up the heat! This morning I was reading from a devotional book by the women of faith, and the passage was entitled "People need people." The verse that went with the passage was "...Put on a heart of compassion..." which is part of Colossians 3:12 (NASB). Last month on first wednesday (a once a month mid-week service at my church New Ponte Community Church), Blake Wood talked about splagchnizomai, and Colossians 3:12-13 was a frequent point of reference in his message. Then when I read it again, it truly struck a cord in my spirit. As a prayed to God before beginning to journal, I felt the need to journal from Colossians, but I couldn't remember the compassion verse. I read Colossians, and when I read 4:5-6, I knew god was saying "Sierra- focus on this." These two verses so perfectly fit into the current state of my mind, and I am just so thrilled that by being obedient to Him just through rising earlier than I would've liked, and to spend this special time with Him, I have found an answer, Knowing that God, through Paul, commands us to take every chance we get to share His grace is so powerful. Nowhere does He asks us politely to do this, it is expected. How great is that?! It makes our choices so simple... follow God, or run away. The verse never promises that choosing to take very opportunity will be easy, but the end of the verse clearly states that we can "know how to answer everyone." To me, that speaks volumes because I tend to get all excited thinking I know just what I need to say, but then in the midst of the conversation i go blank. So, I thank the Lord for His word that tells me that in Him I will always know what to say.

Father, thank you for your word, for the power and encouragement that can be found there. God, this whole day I dedicate and give over to you. I am here to follow youm and I can know that through you I can take every chance to show others your mercy and grace. I the name of Christ who lives,

                                                                                                                                                Amen