Be devoted to prayer

 This week's verses are Colossians 4:2-4:

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should.

 These verses are a bit strange in the context of all of the verses about how to relate properly to others that come before them. Paul is writing about how to be good masters and good servants, and then he switches to these verses.

He asks the church in Colossians to be devoted to prayer. "Devoted" is a pretty strong word. Are we devoted to prayer? Do we even devote ourselves to it with the discipline we might apply to a workout regime or to a degree we're studying for? 

Take a moment and imagine what being devoted to something is like, and then see if you can picture yourself being like that with prayer. Jesus would often separate himself from the day to day in order to have long prayer sessions.

He says to keep alert in it. In other words, he's not talking about ritualistic prayer. He's not talking about repeating the same prayer over and over. He is asking the Colossian church to be wide awake in their prayer, to be observant, and conscious. 

When we pray, do we pray like that? If someone asks us to pray for something, do we just say a sentence, maybe follow a pattern, or do we really dig in and allow ourselves to be present in the conversation with God?

And when we are in the day to day life, are we alert like watchmen, ready to pray for things as they are revealed to us? Jesus would often stop and pray for people when he noticed they were in need.

And Paul also says to pray with thanksgiving. Are we thankful when we pray? Do we have an attitude of thankfulness when we talk with God? Are we thankful for him? Are we thankful for what he has done already? Are we thankful for whatever he will do, even if it isn't precisely what we ask him for? Or do we just step up to the counter and put in our order without even making eye contact?

Paul then shares his big prayer request. He isn't asking for money. Or for some personal dream to be fulfilled. Those are fine to pray for but they are not what Paul chose to ask for. He asks that God would give him opportunities to spread the gospel, and that he'll take full advantage of those opportunities when they come. In other words, he hands the magic genie lamp to God instead of rubbing it for himself. That's devotion!

Do we ask for opportunities for ministry? And that we would do the right thing when we encounter them? Or are our prayers 100% for self, friends, and family?

Here's a challenge: try being devoted to prayer this week. Schedule some time, the same as you would for any other goal or target of discipline. Be alert when you pray, looking for things to lift up in prayer, being aware that you are praying to God himself. And be thankful that you are allowed to pray! Jesus died on the cross so that we could approach God without being condemned. Be thankful for that! And be thankful for what God will do in you and to you and through your devotion as you experiment with being devoted to prayer.