SPRING FORTH NOW 2026

January 17

You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

Colossians 1:21-23 (MSG)

There was a time when many of us felt distant—cut off, overlooked, or defined by what we’d been through. Colossians 1:21–23 (The Message) flips the story, declaring that reconciliation has already happened and stability is now the assignment. Focus here is refusing to drift back into old narratives when grace has already pulled you forward. To live High And Lifted Up is to stay grounded in hope, not shaken by doubt or distraction. For Black people and our communities, this is a powerful reminder that we are not trying to earn belonging—we are standing in it. When your Focus locks onto who you are becoming in Christ, your hands build with confidence and courage. This word reaches across generations, calling all of us to stay steady, stay lifted, and keep moving forward in faith.