Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. - Colossians 4:2
Prayer is the fundamental discipline of the entire Christian life. I can safely say that nothing happens apart from prayer. Nothing will take place in our lives and in the kingdom of God apart from believing prayer. It is the one thing that God gives us to do in order to focus the resources of heaven on our points of need as well as to seek God on behalf of a world that we may never have interaction with. It is the duty and the responsibility of every believer to pray.
In this verse Paul says three things. First, we are to continue stedfastly in prayer. In other words, we are to make it the total commitment of our life to pray. Not just in the morning when we get up and go through our prayer list. Prayer ought to be the background noise of our day. Throughout the day, we should be having a continous conversation with God. Whether it's praying for a sick child, a friend in a crisis, a missionary, or a pastor, we are asking for His supernatural intervention in the affairs, issues, and circumstances of our lives.
Second, Paul tells us to be vigilant in prayer. God wants us to be watchful. We are to stay aware of the needs around us. Third, he tells us that prayer ought to be accompanied by a spirit of faith and thanksgiving. We are thankful becuase of the privilege of prayer. But "thanksgiving" here also expresses a heart of faith that we believe God will answer out prayer.
Let's not just be crisis prayer warriors. Let's give ourselves to a lifestyle of vigilant, faithful prayer - at all times.
Devotional by Crawford W. Loritts
Prayer is the fundamental discipline of the entire Christian life. I can safely say that nothing happens apart from prayer. Nothing will take place in our lives and in the kingdom of God apart from believing prayer. It is the one thing that God gives us to do in order to focus the resources of heaven on our points of need as well as to seek God on behalf of a world that we may never have interaction with. It is the duty and the responsibility of every believer to pray.
In this verse Paul says three things. First, we are to continue stedfastly in prayer. In other words, we are to make it the total commitment of our life to pray. Not just in the morning when we get up and go through our prayer list. Prayer ought to be the background noise of our day. Throughout the day, we should be having a continous conversation with God. Whether it's praying for a sick child, a friend in a crisis, a missionary, or a pastor, we are asking for His supernatural intervention in the affairs, issues, and circumstances of our lives.
Second, Paul tells us to be vigilant in prayer. God wants us to be watchful. We are to stay aware of the needs around us. Third, he tells us that prayer ought to be accompanied by a spirit of faith and thanksgiving. We are thankful becuase of the privilege of prayer. But "thanksgiving" here also expresses a heart of faith that we believe God will answer out prayer.
Let's not just be crisis prayer warriors. Let's give ourselves to a lifestyle of vigilant, faithful prayer - at all times.
Devotional by Crawford W. Loritts
