Colossians 4:2-6 – “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.  

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”  NKJV

I heard a preacher tell his congregation, “It is the Ten Commandments, not Ten Suggestions.”  He was using that to illustrate the importance of biblical directives offered by the apostles, and prophets in Scripture.  I have long believed that if God considered it important enough to have the human authors write it is important enough to obey and incorporate in our lives.

One of the most urgent directives of Scripture is PRAYER.  It was a central message in the life and ministry of Jesus, the disciples, and the apostle Paul.  I like what Charles Finney stated as a major factor in the success of the revivals he conducted where entire towns would be converted, bars would close and houses of ill-repute cease functioning.  He attributed it to his team of prayer warriors who would often go into a city weeks ahead of his coming and would engage in intercession almost 24 hours per day.  They prayed while he preached and their prayers followed the pattern Paul urges here in Colossians 4.  We would be well served to incorporate this pattern into our lives.  Paul urged them to CONTINUE…

• Earnestly in Prayer.

I might ask, what value is a prayer that is not earnest?  If it is nothing more than memorized rote, form, or ceremony it is often powerless and ineffectual accomplishing little in substance.  We are to CONTINUE in prayer but that prayer is to be EARNEST and I might add URGENT.

• Being Vigilant in Prayer.

The KJV renders it “watch” in prayer or have a prayer watch.  We are to be awake and aware of what is happening around us in the natural as well as in the spirit realm.  Remember Jesus asked His disciples to “watch with Him one hour” and they failed to CONTINUE but fell prey to their fatigue and demonstrated a lack of urgency.  Their lack of urgency might have been from a lack of understanding of their hour but nevertheless, they did not CONTINUE with Vigilance.

• Pray with Thanksgiving.

If we are thankful in prayer, what are we thankful for?  Are we offering thanks for the problem or need or are we offering thanks for Who God is, What God has done, and the Answer?  If our hearts overflow with Thanksgiving to God we maintain a focus and consciousness of His Person, Power, and Presence. 

It is easy to remain diligent in prayer if we are ALERT, AWARE, VIGILANT, and in that state, we realize the need for EARNESTNESS and the importance of THANKSGIVING for without Him we could do nothing and would be nothing.  It is in this attitude of prayer that we can manifest a life lead by wisdom in our dealings with the world and will help us manage our time conscientiously.  It is in this mindset of PRAYER that we find a guard placed at our mouths where our speech is gracious and seasoned with salt or having a redeeming quality and rightly using knowledge which is wisdom.  In that mindset, we not only become effectual and fervent in our intercession but we become those who stand in the gap and make up the hedge for others as well.

May the LORD bless you richly, empower you greatly and guide you gently in the pursuit of His purposes on earth in your life.