In a letter Paul wrote to the Colossian believers, he prayed that they would be a people devoted to prayer. I felt a pang of conviction when I read that verse one morning recently. I had been awake for less than an hour, yet if I had to sum up what I had been devoted to so far, it would not have been prayer. I had woken up mulling over concerns that still had my mind’s attention. I had been devoted to dwelling on things that were irritating me, not prayer.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Colossians 4:2-4)
Paul was imprisoned in Rome, for goodness’ sake! He could have easily been devoted to thinking about how uncomfortable his chains were or complaining about his lack of freedom being constantly under guard. Yet we find him being devoted to prayer and instructing the readers of his letter to do the same. Instead of focusing on life’s irritations, he asked the believers to pray that he would clearly proclaim the mystery of the gospel. Wow, what a dynamic we can learn from.
What fills your mind when you wake up in the morning? I am deeply impacted by what Paul was devoted to and what he instructs believers to be devoted to. So whether it is during your personal times of prayer, with your family or others at a prayer meeting, or out on our Nature Trails, may Paul be an example to us of what to focus on and what we can be praying for.
New Day, I look forward to continuing to grow in prayer together. May it be said of us that we are a people who are devoted to prayer, a people who are watchful and thankful, and a people who pray that we all may proclaim the mystery of Christ to those who have yet to experience the joy of salvation through Christ Jesus.