Blueprint or Game Plan? |  Crosstraining 11.16.15

Read Colossians 3:15-17 We’ve all been in situations where someone becomes so focused on getting everything perfect that they are the ones who end up ruining things. In fact, we’ve all probably been that person before. We wanted that family get together to be perfect and maybe pout when things don’t go to plan. Sometimes, it’s not our circumstances that causes problems, it’s how we react to where we are. In Colossians, the apostle Paul says that we should let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and be thankful. While this sounds good in theory, many of us struggle with becoming overwhelmed with worry over whether or not our lives are working out the way we had planned. Paul continues, though, and tells us to admonish, or advise, each other with gratitude. Finally, he tells us that, whatever we do, whether it’s our action or words, we should do it all in the name of Jesus while giving thanks to Him. Paul is putting our perspective on blast. While many of us are consumed with whether or not our lives are working out the way we want them, he tells us that, whatever we do, we should do it for God. While we are fretting over whether that job offer is going to come through, what the bills are going to look like this week, what school we should go to, or a million other things, Paul says our perspective should be different if we want to learn to live with peace in our life. God’s plan for our lives isn’t a blueprint, it’s a playbook. If God wants you to have a specific job or go to a certain location, you’ll end up there. But, God is more concerned with who we are and how we are living no matter where we are in our lives. Reflect A blueprint spells everything out in great detail, but a game plan sets out guidelines and principles. Have you typically viewed God’s will as more of a blueprint or a game plan? How does that fit in with what Colossians 3:17 says? Pray Ask God to help you stop focusing so much about everything in your life being right and start focusing more on becoming the right person wherever you are. // TWO-A-DAYS // GO A LITTLE FARTHER WITH YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS // Go through these questions with your spouse, kids, or friend, or you can even journal about the answers to these questions:

1. What was the best part of your day?
2. What was the toughest part of your day?
3. Where did you mess up today?
4. Where did you see God today?