Things Above
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
—Colossians 3:1 ESV
Looking upward in prayer is a powerful posture. We find ourselves looking away from the earthy and temporal into the heavenly and eternal. Looking up reminds us that our hope comes from God and not from our strength or wisdom. We are held in his hand, safe under his careful watch, and empowered by his comforting Spirit.
Our default orientation is to preoccupy ourselves with the busyness of our day-to-day lives. This Monday morning, I woke up slowly (Sundays are long days for worship pastors) and thought through what today would be like. What my morning routine would need to look like, what needed to be accomplished today at work, and, most importantly, how much I need a cup of coffee!
Then, as I come to write the devotional for the day, I remember that Christ is seated higher. My heart and mind are inclined to look elsewhere for strength. I recognize that I can’t find what I need by only looking around me. I have to look upward.
God is ever-present by his Spirit in even the most mundane moments of our day. But he is present in a transcendental way—bringing glory into dust. Make no mistake: Christ is raised, glorified, and seated at the right hand of God right now.
There’s no need to make abiding daily in the image of an earthly God. It’s the opposite! In abiding in Christ, God is conforming us more to his image. All the good things we have and any power and freedom we experience come from God to us.
God deeply desires to operate in us and through us for his glory. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, we have also been raised to new life with him. Though we are seated in heavenly places, we are here in earthly realities. Could it be that abiding is looking up, beholding Christ, and surrendering our lives to be vessels for his glory? If so, the habit of seeking things above only brings us closer to this reality.
Pray a simple prayer of surrender to God. Take a chance to turn your face upward. There’s nothing magical about looking in a particular direction. However, a heart alignment can happen as we let our posture clarify the intent of our heart. In this posture of prayer, set your heart and mind on the things of God. Meditate on the goodness and glory of God and ask God to work in you and through you today.
