Rescued, Redeemed, Forgiven

Colossians 1
¹³ For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of  His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He has brought me out of the darkness and into His light.
He has rescued me.
He has redeemed me.
He has forgiven me.

Thank You, Lord!
 
 

Strengthened With All Power According to His Glorious Might

Colossians 1

⁹ For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Studying this verse yesterday, I was reminded that we are (vs. 11) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining for all steadfastness and patience, while joyously giving thanks,(vs.10) to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work! 
This means that we have ALL the power of God, His Glorious Might, to live the way He wants us to live.

THEREFORE, WHEN I FAIL TO LIVE THE WAY HE WANTS, IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE CHOSEN MY WILL OVER HIS!

People are really hard to get along with. We are all selfish and all want what we want, all the time! Our wants are constantly vying with the wants of those around us. We can't all have what we want. It makes me mad when I don't get what I want!
  
Isn't that embarrassing!
 
There are a lot of hurt people walking around with chips on their shoulders. They want you to be as miserable as they are. They often succeed in making me miserable!

Isn't that embarrassing!

So I struggle with anger and frustration when I don't get what I want and when people are unkind and unloving, which, because we are all sinful, is a lot of the time!

But that isn't the way I want to respond and that doesn't honor God!
I want to stedfastly, patiently, joyously walk in a manner worthy of  Him, pleasing Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work!

I can choose to have His power and choose His will over mine! It really is that simple!
I almost wish it weren't. Then I might have an excuse!

But I'm afraid there is no excuse. I can either choose to love the way He does or not!

He loves me so much! He demonstrates that over and over in my life!
I want to walk the way He wants me to walk!
I want to choose His will! 

Father,
Your theme for me lately has been loving the way You love. I want to be emptied of my wants and desires and desire what You want. I want to live the way and love the way You would have me to. Thank You that I have Your power to do this! You knew I couldn't do it any other way!
I love You!
Cheryl