Persistence in prayer is the hallmark of the Christian life.

Today, we will take a quick look at scripture that encourages us to pray.

Scripture – Colossians 4:2

² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Observation

Prayer is key.

Paul encourages the Colossians here to ‘continue’ in prayer.

The present tense use of this word highlights the need for this to be a daily occurrence.

This also indicates that He was confident that they were already avid prayers.

He emphasized this great need with the word ‘steadfastly’, showing that He must have been aware that such a task is not easy.

So they were to pray with great effort steadily applied.

‘Being watchful in it’ meaning they were to pray with an alert mind.

This is both an encouragement and a warning.

They are not lose sight of how crucial and precious prayer is because as 1 Peter 5:8 indicates, the devil is always seeking to distract and defeat all saints.

Finally, in all their praying, He reminds them not to neglect thanksgiving.

Application – Persistence in Prayer

This verse has eternal application for every believer.

It is a wonderful blueprint for developing an effective prayer lifestyle.

The reality is we will slip in our prayer life if we fail to develop persistence in prayer.

We all need to evaluate how fervent we are in prayer, remembering that the ‘effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much’ – James 5:16

Prayer has to be intentional.

Prayer is no luxury or something to use in emergencies.

We must incorporate it into everything we do, neglecting all tendency to compartmentalize our Father.

He desires to be involved in every facet of our lives and nothing is too mundane or too shameful to carry before Him.

We essentially need to bathe in prayer.

This is precisely what Paul encouraged the Colossians and it is the approach we need to adopt.

Let us remember that God intends for us to commune with Him continually.

Let us remember too to be vigilant in prayer, wearing our spiritual armor each and every day.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I delight to be in Your presence.
I thank You today for all that You are
and all that You have done.
You are all together lovely, You are holy.
I thank You for being so intentional in 
orchestrating such perfection in this 
universe and for seeing it fit to have me
be a part of it.
Holy Spirit, thank You for Your guiding hand.
Thank You for walking alongside me as I pray
and too for praying wordless prayers on my behalf
when I know not what to pray.
Help me to be alert in my prayers and to remember
to seize every opportunity to pray.
Thank You for the armor of prayer.
Bless my family and friends and light a fire within
them to persist in prayer.
Lord, may all that we do be to You Glory and Honor.
In Christ's name I pray.
Amen