Continue Steadfastly in Prayer

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Colossians 4:2

To be strong in the Lord and to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, we must devote ourselves to prayer. In Colossians 4:2, Paul highlights three vital elements to an effective prayer life; to be faithful, watchful and thankful.

The blessings that come when we continue steadfastly in prayer, which means to be faithful, are more than receiving what we ask for (Luke 11:13). God Himself and His nearness is the greatest blessing of prayer (James 4:8). Devotion to prayer, especially scripture fed prayer, is key to cultivating our relationship with God and growing in our sense of accountability to God (Proverbs 3:5; John 15:4-8). Concerning our need to cultivate intimacy with God in prayer, Leonard Ravenhill noted: “A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by man. No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.” Be faithful to prayer.  
 

Secondly, when we pray, our minds must be watchful (alert). Put your heart into it. Avoid empty words (Matthew 6:7). Use a prayer journal. Pray with an open bible in response to what God is saying to you. Go on a prayer walk. Do whatever you need to do to be alert when you pray.
 

Thirdly, be thankful. There's so much to be thankful for that we take for granted. One way the enemy tempts us is by suggesting that God is holding out on us so that we might act independently of God (Genesis 3:1-6). When we fail to give thanks to the Lord our hearts will become discontent and a discontented heart is more vulnerable to the temptations of the enemy. Regarding our need to cultivate a grateful heart in the presence of God, the Psalmist instructed God’s people, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations" (Psalm 100:4-5). As Daniel Henderson noted: “When we doubt or disregard the goodness, faithfulness, and provision of God, our hearts become ungrateful. Flowing from the reality of that heart condition, complaint eventually surfaces. Discontent, dissatisfaction, and a disagreeable outlook are inevitable.” To guard your heart from a disagreeable outlook you must, as the old hymn says, “count your blessings; name them one by one" and do so day by day. May our eyes be open to the goodness and steadfast love of God so that our hearts are strengthen to be faithful, watchful and thankful in prayer for Christ's sake.

Blessings,
Pastor Marco