Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
Into the Text
Paul started his letter by assuring the Colossians of his constant prayer for them. He was asking God to fill them “with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9). He now ends his letter by urging them to be devoted to prayer themselves. If they want true wisdom for living and speaking, including witnessing to non-Christians, they need to ask God for it.
Studying the book of Colossians has really shown us how much we need prayer if we want to live wisely. The Christian life cannot be lived any other way except by faith. We exercise our faith by going to God and asking Him for everything we need, especially spiritual fruit, trusting Him to provide and thanking Him for it.
Jesus taught us to never give up praying. He has given us wonderful promises: “Ask and it will be given to you,” (Matthew 7:7) and “whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (John 15:16). And then there is this sobering statement by James about lack of prayer: “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
We need to consciously make time for prayer because it certainly won’t happen automatically. Let’s work hard to guard our prayer time. Not in order to impress God or others and certainly not because we have “deserved” a hearing with God, but because we desperately need it. God is gracious, and He wants to help us when we are tempted to sin, when we can’t love others, and when we need wisdom.
Prayer
Father, thank you for listening to my prayers. There are so many things I need for today. I bring them to you now. Amen.