”Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2New International Version (NIV)
Colossians 4:2 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Devote yourself to prayer
In Colossians 4:2, Paul exhorts you to “Devote yourself to prayer“. He expects you to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), just as Jesus expects you to pray continually (Luke 18:1).
But for you to be devoted to prayer, you have to give it quality time and spontaneity. That is, your prayer life is a function of quality time alone with God (Luke 5:16) and spontaneity (Nehemiah). Because there are a lot of distractions, especially your phone and social media.
Additionally, your devotion to prayer is your declaration of total dependence on God. And God is always at hand to hear your prayers. His ear is open to all, especially those who belong to Christ.
Prayers should be founded on being watchful and thankful
Paul, therefore, taught that your prayers should be founded on being watchful and thankful.
Be watchful in your prayer life
The apostle, consequently, taught that you are to be watchful in your prayer life. He taught that because this is the way that you will overcome the devil’s schemes.
Peter, in 1 Peter 5:8, taught that you and I need to be alert because the devil prowls around seeking someone to devour. Therefore, when you are alert in your prayer life, you will overcome the devil’s schemes that are aimed at making you progressively less devoted to prayer.
Be thankful in your prayer life
Apostle Paul also taught that you are to be thankful in your prayer life. He taught that you are to do all things without grumbling (Philippians 2:14). That is, you are to do all things, including prayer, with thankfulness.
You are, therefore, to be thankful at all times because Christ laid down His life for you and reconciled you to God. And Christ’s work of reconciling you to God was a once-and-for-all work, and there is no need for you to doubt its permanence.
Therefore, your thankfulness is not to be dependent on your circumstances. You are, consequently, not to be thankful only when things are going well in your life (Philippians 2:14 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18). But you are to be thankful even when things are not going well in your life.
Pray for others
Finally, Paul also taught that you shouldn’t forget to pray for others.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord Jesus, You are my model in prayer. I, therefore, pray that You intervene in my prayer life. My desire is to be devoted to prayer.
I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 11-13 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
