Beloved, the dusty road I live has just over three miles of twists and turns. It really isn’t a good road to go for a walk, the road is narrow in parts and hilly. However, daily at the hospital, I am able to walk and get my 6,000 steps. There are roughly 2,100 steps in a mile. As I walk in the hospital, I am often making stops to talk to patients or family members. I love to encourage the patient, or their family.
Daily, Colossians 3: 12-13, is something I try to do.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3: 12-13.
Our word is elect, the definition of elect is people who are chosen or singled out. The word elect is in the Bible 15 times.
This verse helps explain the idea;
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:31
Thoughts
Beloved, I love to reassure patients and or their family members, that God loves and sees the person. In our verse today, we are called the elect of God, holy and beloved. God chose us before the foundation of the earth to become his son or daughter. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are his elect. Our holiness is because of God’s righteousness. We are holy because God is holy.
Recently, I started reading my Bible with the intent to read the Bible in 90 days. I know this is a big commitment. So daily, I am reading approximately 12-15 chapters a day. The beauty of this is that I am reading complete stories for example, I read the whole story of Joseph in one setting. I just finished Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and I am working my way through Numbers. In the book of Leviticus, the Bible declares that God is the Lord. God wants to bless us in Numbers.
With scripture reading a part of my day, I am easily able to encourage and pray for the people I meet. Recently, one I prayed for was able to go home from her rehabilitation stay. Today, a code blue was called and I was able to be with the family member until her family could come. When I left the hospital, the patient was still alive. At these times, I know the kindness and empathy I feel is from God.
When we bear one another’s burdens–we agree to pray and use the words the Lord gives us to provide comfort.
When we walk in forgiveness and we forgive–we are doing what God asks us to do, what he expects us to do.
Our path quote, “”God does not give us everything we want, but he does fulfill his promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to himself.”
In my personal life, I have seen God’s faithfulness. There is something to reading God’s Word, praying, and seeking His will that takes care of the wants. Somehow your focus changes to what God wants for you. Your wills mesh. His will is more important than your wants. A recent answer to prayer in a way that I never expected has revitalized my prayer life.
Praying God’s word, praying without ceasing is so important.
What are you praying for? Who are you praying for?
Will you walk in step with God? Filled with the Holy Spirit, willing to share what God is doing on your dusty road.
Prayer
Father God, thank you we are the elect and we come to you. Thank you that we are holy and your beloved. Help me to remember to be humble and kind each day. Let me be a reflection of your love. Please be with us each step of this dusty road. In Jesus’s name Amen.
