Note: for the summer, I will be blogging on passages related to our new Bible study, Organizing from the Heart: Change Your Mindset, Conquer Your Challenges. This will complement the summer online study through the book. Although e-mail groups are closed, you can join in the private Facebook group anytime if you own a copy of the book, which can be purchased here.

Colossians  2:5 NIV For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are, and how firm your faith in Christ is.

How would you like to have someone say the above about you?

It's interesting to me that Paul delights in how orderly the Colossians are, and how firm their faith us. I don't know whether Paul specifically meant the order of their homes, but there was something about the way they lived that was orderly. He seemed to also connect it to having a firm faith.

I'm not suggesting that an orderly life and home guarantees a firm faith in Christ. However, an orderly life might be a by-product of a firm walk with God. How so?

When we live in the priority of walking with Jesus and following God's Word and the Holy Spirit, values and choices can more easily fall into a God-honoring place. I don't believe God wants us to live in a constant state of stress, so when we are in tune with Him, we live in more peace, joy and contentment, which can translate into how we organize our home. With His help and guidance, we can set up the home and lives in a way that honors Him and isn't about impressing others or keeping up with what someone else thinks is the way things should be done.

Orderliness also helps us to continue to build our faith. When we are less burdened by stress, clutter, and daily routines that have fallen behind, we can keep our eyes open for the Lord's work in our life and our spirit open to what He wants to say.

So, orderly life and firm faith walk can be a continual cycle, each benefiting the other.

Thoughts?