“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:9-10)

All power and authority belong to Jesus.  All means all.  We struggle in this world with the idea of ownership, but the Lord owns what He has made.  But He has set us free.  In that freedom, He seeks to make you complete that You would become a child of God as He, the only begotten, is a Son to the Father.  This is the “in His likeness” of creation.  Be complete by completely submitting to the Lord.

Lord, You know the ways in which I rebel and do not submit to Your authority.  You are the One in whom all things have their being.  In You alone is all hope.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always humbly abide in You and You in me.  Guide me along right paths for Your name’s sake.  Keep me always in Your ways so that I may be guided by You along the path of righteousness.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, today and every day.  You know all that I need to do.  You know all that stands in the way.  You know those places in my heart where I need You to remove things and put things in their proper place.  Lead me, Lord, and teach me to follow.  Guide me always according to Your goodness to see, hear, and do what You direct.  Thank You for the call You have given me to follow You.  Amen.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

See to it means that you are to see to it.  No, not everyone has your best interest at heart.  There are those who, for their own reason, will lead you astray.  See to it that you keep your eyes upon Jesus.  He alone is the author and finisher of your faith.  You have heard the Word and you know the truth – Jesus – now do not let anyone take this away from you as has happened to so many in our time.

Lord, there are no special and new gifts which are mine.  I cannot figure out the universe through cryptic understanding.  I am not special, nor different from all others.  I do not have a special anointing of any kind and it does not matter how I feel about anything.  You are God and You have saved me through the cross.  Unite me now and forever with You so that I would not be led astray.

Lord, teach me truth.  Build in me a means of detecting all of the garbage that is spewed in our age.  Do not let me ever be led astray.  Keep me close to You and in the Word You have given me so that I would humbly walk with You always.  Lord, You know what lies before me.  Keep my eyes upon You in order that I would not be led astray by the fancy words of this age during my time in this age.  Amen.

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:6-7).

You are now in relationship.  Relationship in love is never forced, but willingly entered into.  You have received Christ.  What does this mean?  It means that You know He is your Savior and loves you enough to die for you.  He gave up His all for you.  Will you give up your life for Him?  This is the basis of the Christian faith: that in love we would hold onto nothing but Christ.

Lord, guide me to understand the Gospel message You have delivered to the saints.  Help me live into the promise and the discipline of the faith.  Lead me now and always not to live just for myself but in love for others according to Your Word.  You have given me the words of everlasting life; help me to live them.  No matter what it takes, help me learn to live in the discipline You give through faith.

Lord Jesus, You know how difficult it is to navigate in this world.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I would walk according to Your Word.  You know all that is needed and what lies before me.  Help me always look to You so that I would not be led astray.  Through all that comes, thank You, Lord,  for the gifts of faith and life which You have made possible through Your grace.  In You I have life now and forever.  Amen.

“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.  For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:4-5).

Are there those who will lead you astray?  Most certainly.  That is why we all must be on our guard and study to know what is right and fitting.  There is a lot of garbage in the world.  The simple truth is that we need to be saved by and through Christ.  Be sure no one leads you away from this truth.  Our life is in and through Christ alone.  Works will never accomplish salvation.

Lord, help me to see that only when I know that I am in You does anything I do amount to anything.  Even then, it is only a response that teaches me how to love as You love.  Guide me, O Lord, and help me walk in Your salvation, learning from You how to love.  Let me be disciplined as one who is a disciple.  Show me, Lord, the way You know I need to go and help me to always follow that path.

Lord Jesus, You are, and must be, the author and finisher of my faith.  Living in a world with myriad ideas, guide me in the Gospel way so that I would hold fast to the faith delivered once for all.  Help me to know that only in You is there hope and a future.  You will keep me in all my ways.  Lead on, dear Savior, so that I would follow where You lead and know those things You teach me.  Amen.

“That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3)

The wealth of this world is temporary; yet this world’s wealth is what the nations fight over.  The wealth of the Lord comes in the love one shares with others.  Come then into the true wealth.  Live into the life which is eternal.  In Him are the hidden treasures of wisdom and understanding.  Live then as you have been created to live and not as one who is seeking after that which will fail.

Lord, I am caught up in what this world promotes.  I am led by what this world thinks important.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may be led by You and not by the things of this world.  Help me now and always to see that in You alone is all hope and the only future anyone should want to have.  Guide me out of ignorance and into understanding.  Guide me into Your way, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me now and always to see that in You alone is all hope.  Lead me into the life filled with the wisdom and understanding that You alone can give.  Lead me, Lord, so that I would humbly follow wherever You lead.  Thank You, dear Savior,  for saving me in order that I may have this gift.  Amen.

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face” (Colossians 2:1)

What sacrifices have been made that you would have the opportunity to live a life of faith?  The wicked one would have us ignore these things and take it all for granted.  Resist the wicked one and he will flee.  You have been given many great gifts, but they have come at a cost.  Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has invested much in you.  Come unto Him and live into the promise He has given you.

Lord, teach me gratitude.  Teach me how to rejoice in all that has been done for our benefit.  Teach me to reach out to others and to be willing to sacrifice for them as You and others have sacrificed for me.  Teach me how to live as a citizen of heaven.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go and then keep me on the narrow path upon which You have placed me.  In You alone can I find hope.

Come Holy Spirit and search deep within me to guide me out of myself so that I may abide in Christ and He in me.  Let me not consider the cost of this venture of faith, but live according to Your never-changing Word.  Hold me up that I may humbly walk in the Father’s presence doing what is pleasing in His sight.  Let me now and always rejoice in the gift of salvation purchased at the greatest price through Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.