A Life of Prayer, Colossians 4:2
NIV: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
KJV: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."
NKJV: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving."
NLT: "Devote yourselves to payer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."
AMP: "Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving."
NASB: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."
Notes: Original Greek text:
"to watch" = "gregoreuo"
(1) to watch;
(2) metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active;
(a) to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one.
The Lord would have us to not be lazy or passive in prayer, not to be non-chalant in praying to Him, but to make it a priority, a goal, a thing which we devote ourselves and our time to, always watching vigilantly and looking around us for things to bring to Him in prayer, and always doing so with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude toward Him.
God's will for our lives is that we keep our focus on Him, living in constant communion with Him, relying on Him for the help and provision we need. He wants us not to be sleepy or in a daze, but alert and watchful. We ought to be eager to present everything to Him in prayer, and not only in petitioning Him but also in seeking His direction in our lives and in thanking Him joyfully for all His gracious blessings.
When we have this kind of relationship with God, the kind which He intended when He first created us, such a devoted prayer life will not be a burden or a legalistic routine, rather it will become a delight and a pleasure as we will take joy in getting to commune with our Father.
With this kind of close fellowship with our Lord, His peace, that peace which surpasses all human understanding and comprehension, will fill our hearts and flood every aspect of our being!
Lord, may such diligence in prayer be what we seek this day and every day. May we not resort to pondering or thinking about our situations or to judging those around us, deciding why they are right or wrong, good or bad; may we only seek to lift up everything that surrounds us in prayer to you, Lord God, and may our hearts be filled with joy and thankfulness as we do so.