So many times, in my life I have planned to do something and soon those plans get pushed to the side. Most of the time it’s not intentional, it just happens. Prayer is one of the areas for which I have great intentions but it seems to be the one thing that gets less time when urgent things happen. Somehow, we seem to put off the thing that is best.
In Colossians 4:2, Paul challenges us with a command to continue in prayer. Do not neglect it for anything. The fact that they were told to continue shows that they had already been making prayer a priority. The greatest asset we have as Christians is to talk to the one who can control everything. The one who created everything, the one who holds the world together, and the one who is so concerned about us that he knows the minute details about us. Matthew 10:30 tells us he even knows the number of hairs on our heads. That’s about as intricate as you can get. Knowing this makes it seem ridiculous for us to ignore or just put prayer on the list of things to do. We are not just to continue in prayer, we are to be alert and so in tune with the Holy Spirit that we recognize favorable opportunities for prayer. We are to keep our minds renewed and in an attitude of prayer. We are to always have a thankful heart for all He affords us as His children. Keeping this in mind diminishes a lot of the things we think we need.
Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”
Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
After instructing to pray, and the importance of it, Paul turns the corner and asks for prayer for specific things. He asks for prayer for the most important thing we all should be praying for, making Christ known to others. The heartbeat of God is for all to be saved. We are the instruments he will use to make the gospel clear to those who need Him. I say it is the most important prayer you can pray because it can make the difference between Heaven and Hell for someone else. This life can be great, and it can be full of heartache, but nothing can compare to the joys of Heaven or the terror of Hell. When you contrast the two places of eternity and compare eternity to this short life, it sure brings things into perspective.
Colossians 4:3 “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
With Christ’s command to pray, and Paul’s challenge in view, where is your prayer life? Where are your priorities in prayer? How many unsaved people are on your list, and where are they on the list? The priority you place on lost souls is an indicator of how close you are to God. The more we love someone the more we desire the things they desire. God desired to redeem sinful men so much that he gave the life of His Son to make a way for the salvation of their souls. We become part of the process of fulfilling God’s desire when we pray and witness.
