7/23 Colossians 1:6
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God’s great kindness to sinners.
GOOD NEWS
Jesus died on the cross to pay the price of our sin. His death, burial and resurrection pays a price I cannot pay and gives me a gift I cannot earn-forgiveness of my sin and membership in the family of God. What do I do? Ask Jesus to come into your heart, forgive your sin and save you. If you have done that ask the Lord to encourage you today.

7/22 Colossians 1:3-5
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God’s people. You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven — as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
HEAVEN
We are here and now creatures. This world is not our home and yet it is hard for us to imagine what the next world will be like. Paul gives us some indication of the afterlife as he encourages us to pray for one another. Heaven will be a place where we will be close to the Lord and one another. Community is difficult to accomplish and hard to maintain. In heaven, community will be the norm. No tears there nor will their be any loneliness. Pray for others. This is an activity of the saved.

7/21 Colossians 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. It is written to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace.
GRACE
Grace is simply the Lord giving us what we desperately need but cannot earn. I need grace every minute, every hour, every day of my life. My human arrogance, divine ignorance and desperate foolishness require that each day the Lord pour out His grace upon my life and me. Life lived without Jesus is in reality death. Lord give me life.

7/20 Psalm 6:8-10
Go away, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my crying. The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer. May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence is knowing the truth and living in the promise. The Lord will take care of us. That is a truth. Whatever our personal situation we can live with the complete confidence that the Lord will take care of us. We belong to Jesus from now until forever.

7/19 Psalm 6:6-7
I am worn out from sobbing. Every night tears drench my bed; my pillow is wet from weeping. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
TROUBLE
In this world we will have trouble. The Lord is concerned about our personal issues. Give Jesus your worries and problems. Trust Christ to take care of you and He will.

7/18 Psalm 6:4-5
Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. For in death, who remembers you? Who can praise you from the grave?
NEED
We need the Lord. We need Him so fully, so completely that it is hard for us to function without His presence. We need the Lord and He will not depart from us. We need the Lord so that we can praise Him for all that He does for us every minute of every hour of every day.

7/17 Psalm 6:1-3
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument. O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage. Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my body is in agony. I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until you restore me?
RESTORATION
Restoration is available if we ask. Restoration comes when we are filled with Jesus and recognize that the Lord is willing but we often refuse. Do you see your obstinate actions? Are you burdened by your selfishness and foolishness? When you come to Jesus with a full awareness of your need and confess this to the Lord you will be restored with a full sense of awareness of His presence. The Lord never moved. We wobble, walk, run away and when confronted by our desperate situation need to journey back to Him.

7/16 Psalm 5:9-12
My enemies cannot speak one truthful word. Their deepest desire is to destroy others. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their speech is filled with flattery. O God, declare them guilty. Let them be caught in their own traps. Drive them away because of their many sins, for they rebel against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Protect them, so all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O LORD, surrounding them with your shield of love.
TRUTH
We live in truth when we follow Jesus. He is truth. He gives us the truth. His love for us is protective and encouraging. He forgives our sin. Christ carries us through the difficult days. Thank you Lord for what you do to and for us. Equip us to live now where we are with the full knowledge that our life is always in Your hand. Praise the Lord. Praise Him from my full heart.

7/15 Psalm 5:7-8
Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple. Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn.
GUIDANCE
Today Lord don’t let me get off course. Help me Lord to listen, to serve and to care for You. This is Your day Lord help me to share it.

7/14 Psalm 5:5-6
Therefore, the proud will not be allowed to stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies. The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.
LOST
The lost stand apart from God, they are not in His family. The Lord is seeking the lost that they may be saved but there are people who have made a conscious decision, a choice, to oppose God. They are on a deadly journey that will end in their destruction. Stay close to the Lord and let Him guide and correct you.