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“For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me (Colossians 1:29).”

Isn’t it interesting that you struggle with all God’s energy that He powerfully works within you.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).”

When you renounce all ungodliness and worldly passions, you turn your back on thinking and acting without God. You now know how God works in you to say His words and do His works by His power. The alternative is worldly passions, which are all the driving forces other than God. They work against God in subtle ways. They present themselves as good and right, but they aren’t good. God intends to transform us into a purity of His nature that we can’t imagine.

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:17).”

If we short-circuit faith, we know what God has told us to do, but we stop the process.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11).”

There are natural gifts. Spiritual gifts are received through prophecy and the laying on of hands of a gathering of elders who have been called by God for the purpose of imparting gifts. God can use both kinds of gifts.

Ask God to answer these questions.

1. What does it mean that God’s energy works in you?
2. Why does God’s grace bring salvation for everyone?
3. What does it mean to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions?
4. How does God train you to live self-controlled and godly lives?
5. What is your blessed hope that you’re waiting for?

Bonus questions:

1. Why did Jesus give Himself to redeem you from lawlessness?
2. What does it mean to be zealous for good works?
3. Why is faith without works dead?
4. What is a gift, and how would you use it to serve others?
5. What is the difference between natural gifts and spiritual gifts?

1. Pray for the Lord to protect you and keep you in His presence and His presence only.
2. Direct your mind toward the Lord only.
3. Ask God what He want’s to talk about.
4. You can ask God any questions. In all of this, be led by the Holy Spirit. God promises that He will answer you if you ask Him.
5. Do not edit or change what God says even if you don’t understand it.
6. Reject the lies and receive the truth.
7. Take notes.
8. Transfer your notes to your journal without editing what God said to you.

Keep in mind that God doesn’t want you to ever disconnect from Him. He wants to flow through you constantly in knowledge, wisdom, and love.