Colossians 4 - Devoted, Watchful and Thankful

Verse 2 says “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” What an awesome message to all of us. Devote has many synonyms: dedicate, consecrate, commit. So we should dedicate ourselves to prayer, not just pray when we need something or when we feel like it, but truly devote ourselves to prayer.

We should also be watchful and thankful. Watchful can be taken in several different contexts: watchful of enemies and pitfalls, watchful for opportunities to minister, watchful for the return of the Master, watchful for needs of others, watchful of our actions and attitudes, etc. We must be watchful of all of these things and more.

Thankful! I say again, thankful! We must be thankful in everything for God has truly blessed us all. If you don’t feel that you have a lot to be thankful for, then start counting your blessings. You can read this, so you have sight. You can understand, so you have reason and higher brain functions. You’re breathing, alive and awake. You have motor functions, working the keys and buttons. There is much more, but I know you have these. If you don’t think that’s special, then take one or all of them away and see what you would give to have them back. You would give all of the earthly possessions you have just to get them back, I guarantee it. But, the thing we should be most thankful for is our salvation, purchased for us by Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice, we have eternal life. No fear of death or of hell. Hope in a dying world. Now that is something spectacular!

Lord please be with us and help us to remember Your greatness. Help me to devote myself to You in prayer, and to always be watchful and thankful in everything that I do, all for You and Your glory!