Colossians 3 Guided Prayer 5.10.09 by Kelly Kang (Gracepoint Fellowship Church – Berkeley)

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Spend some time “[setting] your hearts on things above” by reflecting on Christ’s finished work of salvation for you, and on the reality of eternal life for those in Christ.  Thank God for the fact that “you have been raised with Christ,” that you will one day “appear with him in glory.”

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Are there ways that you still belong “to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry?” Spend some time repenting of them and ask God to give you the desire and the strength to “put to death” these sins.

Think about the earthly things or petty concerns that become preoccupations in your life, leading to “anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language.” In what ways have you allowed these things to govern your heart?  Who or what makes you angry, feel malice, or cause you to slander or use filthy language?  Spend some time confessing them to God and ask God to help you “set your [mind] on things above.”

Pray for others who are filled with “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.”  Pray for repentance and for release from such a life of slavery

9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Are there ways you are engaged in deception with other people? Is there some sin in your life that you have been trying to hide from others? Are there ways you maybe creating false impressions of yourself that can be misleading to others? Confess them to God and ask God to give you the courage to be honest and the humility to reveal  your true self to others.

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Confess to God all the grievances and people that you are having hard time forgiving.
Thank God for Jesus’ death on the cross and His forgiveness as you think about  all the people you are having hard time forgiving and how impossible and unjust forgiveness seems.
Pray that you will be able to forgive just as the LORD forgave you
Pray for God’s peace to rule your heart rather than your feelings of hurt, victimization and anger.
Pray that God will clothe you with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” rather than “anger, rage, malice.”

18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Take time to repent of ways that you may have sinned in these relationships and commit to honoring God in these relationships.

22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Do you find yourself doing things for God because of people and as a result you easily blame others when the earthly rewards don’t seem to be much?
What has been motivating your service to God?
If your motivation has not been “sincerity of heart and reverence for the LORD,” confess the wrong motivations and commit to serving Christ and not men.