Devote yourselves to prayer

Joe Wittwer | June 18, 2012

Scripture: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-19, Colossians 4

            Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

            Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (NIV)

 

Observation/application

            The word “devote” translates the Greek proskartareo, (pros = towards, or used intensively; plus karteros = strong); literally, “to be strong towards” or “to be very strong”.  It means, “to endure in, persevere in, continue in steadfastly, to persist.”  It is used of continuing in prayer in Acts 1:14, Romans 12:12, and here.  It is used of continuing in the apostles’ teaching in Acts 2:42, and of continuing to meet in the Temple in Acts 2:46, and of the apostles devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word in Acts 6:4. 

            Every Christian should be strong in prayer.  We should keep praying faithfully and regularly.  Prayer is to the spiritual life what breathing is to physical life.  It is the way we live. 

            I want to pray in two ways.  First, I want to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17); I want to pray like I breathe—naturally and continually.  I want my first response to every situation to be prayer.  I want to live in an ongoing conversation with my Father.  This type of prayer happens on the go—wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, I can pray.

            Second, I want to “pray earnestly” (Luke 22:44, Acts 12:5, 1 Thess. 3:10, James 5:17).  I want to set aside time when I do nothing but pray, when I focus my energy and attention on talking with God and hearing His answer.  This type of prayer is focused and intense—I stop doing other things to pray. 

            Both kinds of prayer are included in this command: devote yourselves to prayer.

 

Prayer: Lord, help me pray.  I want to be more connected to You, and more trusting in You.  I am an activist by nature, and prayer (especially earnest prayer) feels like inactivity and is hard for me.  Like the man who prayed, “I believe, help my unbelief”, I pray this: “Lord, I pray; help my lack of prayer.”  I want to get better.