Colossians 4:2

Colossians 4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Paul is giving final instructions for this letter. He has given much doctrine and now he gives practical assignments.

First is prayer. We should be steadfast in our prayer, persevering and not fainting.

It is a strange thing that God hears our prayers. How can He fulfill age-old prophecies, make destinies come to pass just as predicted and at the same time, hear and answer every prayer that is lifted up by His children? The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write that we should be devoted to prayer. We don't have to understand it or explain it. We just need to devote ourselves to it.

But there is a balancing act. As we pray, we must also watch, keeping alert. How? Pray with one eye open? Paul wants us to balance prayer with action. J. Vernon McGee tells of a farmer who prayed for his corn crop, but said Amen with his hoe! That is a good balance of prayer and action!

How should we pray? With thanksgiving. Too often, we present God with a never-ending list of our wants and needs, never stopping to thank Him when we receive. We are never satisfied. As soon as we get one thing crossed off our list, we start asking for the next thing.

Prayerful yet alert. Child-like in our dependence on Him yet full of wisdom when we thank Him for what He provides.

Contradictory? It's the balanced Christian life.