Read: Colossians 4:2-4

One of the great privileges and blessings that Christ purchased for us on the cross is our access to the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). Because we have been united to Christ, reconciled to God, and cloaked with Christ’s righteousness, we have the ability to go before the Father’s throne in prayer with confidence.

Not only are we accepted, but God hears our cries (Prov. 15:29)! And as if that wasn’t enough, the Father actually delights in our prayers (Prov. 15:8)!

The Pleasure of Prayer

That’s on one side of the prayer blessing equation. On the other, we have the blessed experience of praying. Even when we are crying out to God in the midst of a trial, prayer is a sweet and beneficial time for the believer. Laying our concerns and requests before our heavenly Father is calming, encouraging, and it helps us to grow in our trust in and reliance on God.

Not only does God want us to pray, but we also know that there is great joy in praying.

This all combines into an activity and discipline that we as believers should be eager to practice as much as possible. But if this is the case, why did Paul need to command the Colossian believers to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving? The command assumes that prayer is something that the believer can become complacent or weary in doing.

Be Watchful

While we know that time in prayer is beneficial and vital, it is something that most Christians have to fight for in their daily life.

Much of the time this neglect isn’t intentional, hence the command to be watchful. Other ways that we can translate this command are ‘be alert,’ or ‘be awake.’ It’s the same command Jesus repeatedly gave his disciples in Matthew 24-25 when He was teaching them about the nature of his return.

Not only must they be watchful because deceivers come along claiming to be the Christ in an attempt to lead his disciples astray, but we must also be watchful because Christ’s return will happen suddenly. So, Jesus’ disciples need to be awake so that they don’t get led astray and so that they’re ready for his return like a faithful servant busy with whatever his master has entrusted him.

In the same way, we need to be alert in our prayer life. Prayer, like our Bible intake, is not a discipline that we can afford to be lazy in. We need to continue steadfastly in it, for our sake and others.

We’ve already mentioned the benefits that prayer has for the individual praying. Instead of retreading that ground, note that Paul tells us to be watchful in our prayer “with thanksgiving.”

With Thanksgiving

At least for me, I know that if I am not consciously making sure that I begin my prayers with thanksgiving to God for specific things he has done, my prayers can tend to be a checklist of what I’d like to see God do for me.

While we should be laying all of our concerns and petitions before the Lord, we also know that he isn’t our personal magic genie who exists merely to make our wishes come true. He is our heavenly Father who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Prayer, done with thanksgiving, helps us to remember this.

But Paul’s instruction in Colossians 4:2-4 also imply that our faithfulness in prayer benefits others. In verses 3-4, Paul asks the Colossians to pray for him and his fellow ministers who are preaching the gospel. Paul sees the Colossians’ prayers for him and his ministry as vital for its success. Prayer is effective. God uses the prayers of His people as a means by which to do miracles, from physical healing, to provision, and of course to save. Knowing this, how can we neglect prayer? Let us continue steadfastly in it, praying with thanksgiving.