“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” – Colossians 1:13

Zach Williams said: "I grew up around music," recalled Williams, 37, during a recent phone interview. "My dad played (guitar) and led worship in church and I was there every Sunday and Wednesday."

"I knew all about Jesus and Scripture stories and had a head knowledge of him. I went forward at church camp and called myself a Christian but there was never a heart change."

He made some bad choices - including trouble with drugs – contributed to his dropping out of high school.

He later was set to play at a junior college, but a serious injury ended Williams' competitive basketball career.

"While I was still in that freshman year, I taught myself to play my roommate's acoustic guitar and I fell in love with music." Soon Williams started to write songs using his new-found talent in his Southern rock-country-blues style.

Unfortunately, Williams also fell in love with drugs and alcohol. That love continued even as he put together a band and started playing gigs around the region and beyond.

For the next 12-15 years he lived a life of rock and roll and drugs.

It was during a long trip through Spain when his band's bus driver was scanning for radio stations. Over the air came the Big Daddy Weave song "Redeemed." The lyrics hit Williams like a lightning bolt.

"It was like God saying, 'Zach I see you different than you see yourself.' And I thought...wow, there's a way out of this."

Zach called his wife, came home, quit his band and the couple started going to church. "We gave our lives to the Lord, and were baptized the day before our little girl was born." Today, Zach is a Christian musician.

We too have fallen and needed to be saved. Yet in our darkest moments, Jesus Christ came into our lives and rescued us, giving us eternal life. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for saving you!

“Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ.” – Andrew Murray

God’s Word: “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” – Titus 3:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS †

“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully” – Colossians 1:11

In his book “Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit”, Christopher H. J. Wright writes: “The first three items in Paul’s fruit basket sound very spiritual. Heavenly almost. Very nice for Sundays, at least. But his next one, patience, brings us back down to earth on a Monday. What are we like to live with the rest of the week? 

How do we cope with all that presses in on us in the hustle and hassle of life? The word Paul uses literally means “long-tempered.” In our older English translations patience was translated “long-suffering”—one of those old-fashioned words that really deserves to be kept alive. 

More recently, it is translated “forbearance.” Actually both meanings are needed to get the full flavor of Paul’s term. Patience as fruit of the Spirit means: The ability to endure for a long time whatever opposition and suffering may come our way, and to show perseverance without wanting retaliation or revenge. 

The ability to put up with the weaknesses and foibles of others (including other believers), and to show forbearance toward them, without getting quickly irritated or angry enough to want to fight back.”

One of the great fruits of the Spirit of God is patience. It is through patience that we mature and become more like our Savior. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His patience towards you and seek to be a more patient person.

“He who waits on God never waits too long.”- Chuck Wagner

God’s Word: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” – Ecclesiastes 7:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS †

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” – Colossians 1:9

The New York Time’s ethicist received the following from an anonymous reader:

“I have an 85-year-old neighbor who is a sweet friend and caring person. My issue is that she is very religious and I’m not at all. She prays for me and says it in person, texts, and emails for even the most minor of situations. I’ve told her my view of religion and that she doesn’t need to pray for me. She said she has to, otherwise she’s not following the Bible. I’m trying to ignore this but it’s really bothering me that she can’t respect my wishes.”

“The Ethicist” responded:

“I’m glad that you’ve been honest with each other about your very different views concerning prayer. But… if you don’t think these prayers will do you any good, you presumably also don’t think they’ll do you any harm. By contrast, she thinks that you’ll be worse off without them, and that praying for you is her duty.

The only reason you give for objecting to her prayers is that she has failed to comply with your wishes. Yet I don’t find that she has thereby treated you with disrespect… So, you’re not entitled to insist that she stop including you in her prayers. What you can fairly ask is simply that she refrain from informing you about them. Still, instead of requiring that your octogenarian neighbor change her ways, I wonder whether you might change yours — and learn to accept this woman for who she is, hearing her prayers as a sincere expression of her loving feelings toward you.”

Continue to love people and be persistent in your prayers. Today in prayer, lift up to the Lord someone who needs your prayers.

“Pray often.” – John Bunyan

God’s Word: “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.” – 2 Timothy 1:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS †

 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” – Colossians 1:3

Max Lucado tells the story of an intercession he experienced in Brazil in 1983. The transition was difficult enough with culture shock, but it was not helped by the fact that their possessions were held up in customs.

No matter how many times Lucado went to the customs office, the officer refused to release their possessions, giving explanations which he couldn’t fully understand, given his limited Portuguese.

One day, their neighbor Quenho, learning of their plight, offered to help: he was a lawyer.

All it took was Quenho going with Lucado to the customs office. Before long, the officer and Quenho were laughing, and Quenho introduced Lucado as his neighbor. Money may have changed hands. Whatever was said, the Lucados’ possessions were finally released!

Lucado concludes:

Quenho had everything I did not. He understood the culture. He knew the language. He could interpret the law. He perceived the problem. He knew how to persuade the Customs official. And, fortunately for us, he chose to speak on our behalf. He was our advocate.

One of the best gifts you can give others is prayer. Today in prayer, look to the Lord with expectancy and pray for some of the needs of others.

“I have benefited by my praying for others; for by making an errand to God for them, I have gotten something for myself.” – Samuel Rutherford

God’s Word: “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.” – Romans 1:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN COLOSSIANS  †