February-March 2020 Prayer Diary
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God ... Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The first part of this passage is all about perspective. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are always looking, thinking and responding to ourselves and the world around us from a perspective.
This becomes obvious in the work of landscape artists and photographers in particular. You can tell whether they were standing to the side, above or below their subject matter in order to create their artistic work.
Can others observe from what perspective we are operating as we live and respond to life?
Paul needed to remind the Colossian believers to take stock of their life perspective. In order to be happy? No. In order to be successful? No. But in order to live life authentically as God's holy people. As the catechism says, 'What is the chief end of man [people]? A man's [person's] chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.'
We know that one of the outcomes of times of tragedy is that we see things from a new perspective. How many survivors of the recent bushfires have commented that they have lost everything but are glad that their loved ones are safe? In such situations, the material world is suddenly way less important. Life and loved ones are what matters.
As dearly loved members of God's household, let us make 2020 a year when our perspective is taken from our position in Christ. 'Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.'
This then enables us to teach and build one another up, 'with all wisdom', and to do everything in the name of Christ, giving thanks to the Father.
May today and every day of 2020 be lived from your position as one 'raised with Christ.'
Blessings,
Shirley Culhane and the Korus Connect Family
Click here to download the PDF version of the February-March 2020 Prayer Diary.
