Step 11: Living the New Life: Colossians

STEP 11: We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us, and power to carry that out.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16

Colossians is a letter from Paul and Timothy to God’s holy people in Colosse around 62 A.D. The beginning prayer in chapter 1 is a beautiful testament to the 11^th Step:

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy. Colossians 1:9-11 NLT

Paul and Timothy wrote this letter because the new Christians in Colosse were confused as to how they should behave as Christ followers and what truly is God’s will for their lives. Colossians acts as a guideline to focus in with mindful prayer of how Christ wants us to live and to leave our old sinful nature behind.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3 NLT

As this verse reminds us, our old life of addiction and compulsive behavior died away when we made our decision in the 3^rd Step to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, and our real life is hidden with Christ in God. Through the prayer and meditation of Step 11, we seek to find Him, His will for our lives, and the Power to carry it out.

Key Verse for Step 11

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 NLT

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:1 NLT

Examine your heart

1. Do you have a routine for prayer and meditation? How do you improve your conscious contact with God?
2. Determining God’s will for our lives can be difficult. What are some ways you know you are acting in His will?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Great and Awesome Creator of the Universe, my life is in Your hands. I commit to do Your will and will seek You in thoughtful prayer. Please make the direction for my life clear to me as I try to do the things you want me to do. My life is in Your hands and I am grateful for all You have done for me. In Jesus’ name we pray—Amen.