“Devote yourselves To Prayer…”-{Col 4:2}
“TO PRAYER, “ is how the sentence begins and is the emphasis in the Greek… Think about that. It is a command and grammatically is written, “to prayer” continuously be devoted! This means to be continuously dependent upon the Spirit of God to empower you to do so.
“DEVOTED,” the word speaks of PERSISTENCE. It speaks of persistence, steadfastness, and strength to prevail with the implication despite difficulties. It speaks of not only giving yourself to this but courageously doing so, for Prayer at times is not without opposition and difficulties, as you well know!
“TO PRAYER” {proskartereo} “pros” implies in motion, direction, to, and “karteréo = be strong, steadfast, firm, endure, hold out, bear the burden means to be earnest towards, to persevere. It describes a steadfast single-minded fidelity to a certain course of action. It means to persist obstinately in a task, to keep on with devotion, to continue to do something with intense effort, to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place, to persevere…” = be strong, steadfast, firm, endure, hold out, bear the burden means to be earnest towards, to persevere. It describes a steadfast single-minded fidelity to a certain course of action. It means to persist obstinately in a task, to keep on with devotion, to continue to do something with intense effort, to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place, to persevere…”-{preceptaustin}
Prayer is meant to have an influence on your life and mine!
“To Prayer devote yourselves persistently to.” It doesn’t mean you hide away in a cave praying 24 hours a day, but it does mean prayer influences your life, it speaks of devotion to prayer that affects everything in your life. You are turning your thoughts into prayer, opportunities into prayer, what bothers you into prayer, and concerns for others into prayer, you are “praying without ceasing,” {Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18}. which was used to speak of a hacking cough. Regular interruptions. Regularly offering up prayers to Him throughout your day. Persevere, give yourself to it, and not faint, but be diligent, not slothful, indifferent, but persistent, to courageously keep going.
Prayer is not part-time but full-time, Being alert to opportunities and turning to God in all aspects of life.
The Spirit of God will empower you to pray… {Read Phil 2:13 NLT- for encouragement}.
It means You are spiritually wide awake, alert, turning thoughts, and situations be it your own or that of others to talk to God about!
Prayer is a Priority. Prayer is to be Practiced. Pray Persistently! You are Praying to a Person- God your Heavenly Father!
“To Prayer…devote yourselves!” How do you devote to prayer? Paul in the passage gives three bits of help,
- PRAY PERSISTENTLY-
- KEEP ALERT-
- BE THANKFUL –
“Devote yourselves to prayer….”-{Col 4:2}
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”- {Col 4:2}
God Bless
Aidan.