121 Days of Prayer

You Have Died with Christ, and He Has Set You Free

The purposes of this prayer are: Guidance/Purpose, Resist Temptation and Inspiration/Encouragement.

Holy God, Paul urged the Colossians to be careful not to get caught up in religious practices or worship requirements such as worship of angels or dietary restrictions because they are only worldly rules and human teachings. Such religiosity distracts their attention from Christ crucified, and is not what Paul taught them. He wrote, “Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!’? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.” Colossians 2:18–23 (NLT). Merciful Father, we are saved because of Jesus’ sacrifice of his life on the cross for our sins. It is our faith in Jesus that reconciles us to you, not any sort of religious practice, self-denial or particular method of worship. Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done for us. Amen.