The Centered Life (Part 6)

The Centered Life - Filled Up ... To Move On
Colossians 1:9-12

Paul's Opening Prayer
Colossians 1:9 = My desire and our goal:

• To be filled with the knowledge of His will > WHAT
• All spiritual understanding > HOW

Colossians 1:10-12 = Why?

• To walk in a manner worthy of our Lord
• To increase in the knowledge of God
• To be strengthened with all power
• To attain:
• steadfastness
• patience
• joyous gratitude to the Father for our inheritance!

Centered In Jesus

Thomas Kelly writes:

"We feel honestly the pull of many obligations and try to fulfill them all. And we are unhappy, uneasy, strained, oppressed, and fearful we shall be shallow.... We have hints that there is a way of life vastly richer and deeper than all this hurried existence, a life of unhurried serenity and peace and power. If only we could slip over into that Center!... We have seen and known some people who have found this deep Center of living, where the fretful calls of life are integrated, where No as well as Yes can be said with confidence."

Transformation & Transparency

• Transformed = Real change
• Transparent = No hidden life

Consumer Christianity

"One who utilizes the grace of God for forgiveness and the services of the church for special occasions, but does not give his life and innermost thoughts, feelings and intentions over to the Kingdom of the heavens. Such Christians are not inwardly transformed and not committed to it." - Dallas Willard

Three Transformational Factors

1. Holy Spirit
2. Daily Life
3. Discipleship

Inside = Mind | Outside = Behavior

Colossians 3:12-17~10 Disciplines~Love in Seven graces