Praying Alertly

Today's reading: Colossians 3-4

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 NRSV

Have you ever prayed a prayer then finished, wondering what you actually said or where your mind had gone? Have you ever been praying the Lord's Prayer then can't remember saying a single word?

Paul reminds us that 1) we need to be devoted, that is intentional, about praying, and 2) we need to stay alert in our prayers by giving thanks.

How do I read this?

We need to pray more than we do. Turn our worries and concerns into prayers. Talk to God constantly. Everyone else in the store is talking on the cell phones, right? Why put yours to your ear and talk to God? [You think this is funny, perhaps, but it could be the best thing you have done all day. Try it!]

And if we find our minds straying, start thanking God for anything that comes to mind, even if it is the tangent your brain took off on! This is especially applicable during a corporate or written prayer when our minds don't seem to be engaged. You don't have to be paying attention for the prayer to work! Be thanking God for what other things come to mind while others are praying that prayer. God is extremely capable of multi-tasking!

God, we want to devote ourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving! And help us not to feel foolish talking to you while pretending to be on our cell phones. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims