8 Words - by Bec Bonython

Colossians 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

What an action packed verse! Just 8 words. 

The NASB says: Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

God does not intend for our prayers to be an event or only at certain times or just in a crisis. Prayer is not a spiritual luxury but it’s essential for growth. Sometimes, because we can’t see the tangible benefits of our prayers - it's just 'talking' - we can begin to minimise the impact of what prayer can do.  However, God wants prayer to be a part of our natural every day.

Devoting ourselves to prayer means God wants to have an ongoing dialogue with us.  He wants us to be with Him. Talk to Him about how we are feeling and about what decisions you need to make. Ask Him for help in that conversation or temptation, or for wisdom and discernment.  Give thanks to Him throughout the day. Honour Him in your thoughts and prayers. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 puts it… pray without ceasing. 

Prayer is so powerful, because as we constantly talk things through with God, we are actively committing and submitting our ways and actions and thoughts to God - which constantly realigns our will with His. 

The verse requires two things from us as we pray – to be watchful and thankful.

God wants the posture of our heart to be watchful as we pray. This means we watch for favourable opportunities, watch that our mind is in the right frame as we pray. We keep awake as we pray! Watch that we don’t neglect to pray.

The verse also asks us to be thankful. When we are praying for something, and it doesn’t seem to be coming as quickly as we would like or as we would have expected, God wants our hearts to remain thankful. Being thankful keeps our eyes focused on God, which helps our heart remain soft. Trust Him. He is Lord, and He knows all and sees all, and everything He does is done with love towards us.