Prayer

“Continue in prayer and watch in it with thanksgiving,” (Colossians 4:2).

This is one of Paul’s last instructions to the Colossians as he closes up his letter. Believing that he is inspired by the Holy Spirit is believing that this is a command from God.

The command begins with the word continue. In the original Greek the word that was used was “proskartereō” meaning be earnest to it, be in a serious and intentional mental state in prayer. This will result in diligence in praying. It means perseverance in the face of having to wait for a response or a change in what we are praying. A response is not always quick for many reasons. It could be because it’s not God’s perfect timing, other people’s hearts have to be changed and may involve many incidents yet to happen or it may not be God’s best for us. Many times, we ask for what we want instead of what’s best for us. God knows best and our trust should be in His wisdom and omniscience.

There is another commandment, to watch in prayer. The original Greek word used means to be vigilant, awake and watchful. What does it mean to be alert in prayer? It means to keep a sharp eye out for God’s Will or warnings from the Holy Spirit. I will give you an example. Let’s say you are praying for a vacation trip by car to the beach. And you are praying for good weather, a good time, relaxation and rest or a peaceful time with the family. And in prayer you perceive you should pray for the car. Suddenly as you pray you feel you should pray for a safe trip and that the car will have no mechanical problems. That well could have been the Holy Spirit directing you ahead of the trip to pray in a different direction that you intended. But because you were alert and watchful for what God wanted you to pray for, you petition God for safety.

Many times, you are praying for just common things that pertain to you, your family, friends and neighbors then the Lord will bring to your mind an associate, a person you barely know or someone you happen to notice on the street, the store or at work. This is the Holy Spirit impressing on you to pray for that person. You will find that as you lift them up before God, there will be specifics you perceive to pray for them. This is the Holy Spirit revealing their needs so that you can pray for them. This is being alert and watchful in prayer.

The last thing Paul writes is to be thankful. Thank the Lord that we can come before Him with our petitions and that He hears us. Thank the Lord that He participates with us when we pray. Thank the Lord that you can yield when He makes known what He wants you to pray for.

Prayer is not a one-way street. The definition of prayer is speaking to God. When you meet with friends or family and you speak to them, it’s a conversation. You listen and respond. They listen and respond. Prayer should be that communication with the Lord. What we tend to do is rattle off the Word of God, make our petitions and that is our prayer without stopping to listen to what God is trying to say to us. This is not communion with the Lord. It’s not fellowship with the Lord.

The word that was translated thanksgiving means grateful worship. Paul writes “with thanksgiving.” In other words, with worship in gratitude, not just a thank you. “And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:17) We give thanks to God, the Godhead. They are One and in continual agreement. And we pray in the name of Jesus. His is the righteousness that allows us access to God and makes us acceptable.

Paul was saying a lot in that one verse. This is truly a lesson in how to pray. In essence, persevere either until you get a response or peace and in actuality of why the response isn’t coming or in the time and way you wanted. We must be alert to what God wants us to pray for. Gratefulness is to be expressed in worship. And we must remember that we are to commune or converse with the Lord. Sometimes it’s best to put the list away and see what the Lord wants to talk about.