“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”
So like, I’m supposed to only do prayer all the time? I’m in trouble, because, like, I fall asleep when I start praying! And seriously, I gotta work, you know.
I get it. I’ve fallen asleep a lot when praying. Matter of fact, when I awaken in the middle of the night, I usually begin praying and soon find that morning has arrived without my notice. This scripture is more an instruction of how to have a fruitful prayer LIFE than an edict for each prayer MOMENT.
Overall, we’re to be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in our prayer lives. That is, we’re to be serious about prayer, not becoming tired in our efforts, loyal and firm in our conviction that God will answer, alert and intent in our praying, and our praying must be with thanksgiving.
So, we are being instructed to be serious about this privilege of going to Almighty God with our requests and praise. We should never become tired of this privilege as though believing that there is little reason behind this action. We should be steadfast—firm in our conviction—that God Himself hears us, leans in, and answers our prayers. We are to be vigilant, never giving ground to the enemy that we’ve gained through our relationship with the King of kings.
Most of all, we’re to be intentional about our prayer life. In prayer, we are entering the throne room of the King of the Universe. We aren’t to just pop in like we own the place. We’re not to just throw balls of rote prayer words there and race on to something else.
We are to think about what we’re praying. Recall Jesus’ model prayer where He praises God, thanks Him, confesses sin and insufficiencies, then makes requests known. We’re to be like the woman who pestered the judge about her case—never giving up until the outcome is known. This is what we’re to devote ourselves to: our ongoing relationship with God through Christ Jesus. In that relationship, we visit with Him, hear from Him, ask Him questions, and ask for solutions to the problems we know of.
Let’s try today to be more cognizant of what we’re doing with our prayer life. Let’s choose to be intentional about our prayers, measuring every word, marshaling every thought, making our time in His presence completely focused on Him. Let’s make it a habit for the rest of our lives on Earth.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
©2021 Faye Stoeffler Bryant
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