Big Idea: Pray persistently, live wisely, and speak graciously so others see Christ in you.
Colossians 4: 2-6
Storms have a way of revealing what’s going on inside of us. When we are in difficult times we shrink down to the size of our training. The test of our faith reveals who we really are.
In an uncertain world, Kingdom people:
1. Stand firm through persistent prayer (vs 2-4). Do you pray as a last resort? (Acts 2:42) Our prayer life should be the conduit through which we find joy in our circumstances. If you want to stand firm in public, you need to be grounded in private. (Philippians 4:6-7).
2. Stand firm through wise living (v5). Our lives are sermons long before our words are. (Matthew 5:16) What does your life communicate about Christ to those around you?
3. Stand firm through gracious speech (v6). Grace in our conversations means kindness, patience, and understanding towards others, even when they may not deserve it in our minds. Always, we are to speak the truth in love. It’s never about trying to make people happy, but when we speak, even in disagreement, we need to speak in a manner that shows others love and respect, and points them toward Christ. Do your words pull others in, or do they push them away?
Where do you need to stand firm right now? Gratitude is the evidence of a changed life. Prayer isn’t just what we do in the battle, it is the battle.
