Colossians 4:2-4 Devoted to Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. [Colossians 4:2-4 NASB]

We are told to be devoted to prayer. "Devoted" means to be vigilant and constant in our prayer without ceasing.. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul said, "pray without ceasing." He also said that we should be alert. That is, be conscious of praying all the time, without letting our minds wander.

When we pray, we should have an attitude of thanksgiving. Prayer and thanks are often paired in the Bible. We read;

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB]

When I read, "pray without ceasing," I take it to literally mean, pray constantly, all day, every waking hour. The watered-down interpretation of this says something like, "Do your devotions, and spend some time in prayer. Don't give up spending a little time each day praying." Often, when our experience doesn't line up with what the Scripture is saying, we reinterpret the scripture to match our own preconceptions. If I don't know how to pray, literally, without ceasing, then I interpret the Scripture to be figurative.

When you interpret the Bible literally, then allow your behavior to be changed to match the Scriptures, then it all makes sense. I can tell you from first hand experience; you can pray without ceasing.

First, understand that there are different kinds of prayer. There is fervent prayer during which you devote the strength of your mind and body to prayer. This is the kind of prayer that has you on your knees calling out to God for mercy. In this prayer, you may be supplicating for your own needs or interceding for another. Sometimes this prayer is accompanied by fasting, setting aside the most basic things of this world, as you seek the Spirit of God. You are not expected to maintain this intensity of prayer all day every day.

There is devotional prayer. This differs from the fervent prayer, mainly in intensity. It is typically more conversational and less pleading, though the general content may be the same; praying for your own needs and interceding for others. The difference is urgency. Again, you cannot be expected to maintain this type of prayer all day long. Eventually, you will run out of words, or you will begin repeating the same prayers in vain repetition.

Then there's quiet prayer. The psalmist said, "Be still, and know that I am God." [Psalm 46:10 NKJV] "Be still" means to relax, stop striving, become quiet. Isaiah said;

Yet those who wait for the LORDWill gain new strength;They will mount up with wings like eagles,They will run and not get tired,They will walk and not become weary. [Isaiah 40:31 NASB]

 When your mind is quiet, you can hear God's voice. Jesus said;

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; [John 10:27 NASB]

You should have conversational prayer. In a conversation, both parties talk. You speak to God, then you stop and listen for His voice. Not a booming voice coming from the ceiling. Not even a loud voice in your head. We read about Elijah on the mountainside;

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. [1 Kings 19:11-12 NKJV]

When the Lord speaks to you, expect Him to speak with a gentle whisper of a thought in your mind. His Spirit is speaking to your spirit. You have to quiet your soul to hear Him. Listening to God is also prayer.

Jesus said;

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." [John 15:4 NKJV]

We are to abide in Jesus just as He abides in us. Because we have the Holy Spirit, Jesus literally abides in each one of us who believe. What do you think that is like for Him? Do you think He ever forgets that He is living in you? When you pray in the morning, then go about your business, and then pray again the next day, do you think He says, "Hey, I forgot you were there?" Of course not.

Let it be the same for you. Abide in Him, being consciously aware of His presence. Don't forget that He is there. Words are not necessary to wait in His presence. This too, is prayer. You can abide in Him, aware of Him all day long, every day; praying without ceasing.

Lord, I thank You that I am able to come to the throne of grace with boldness, and call You Father. Thank You for Your Spirit who leads me in prayer. I pray for the grace to constantly be aware of You, and to maintain an attitude of prayer with thanksgiving.