Watch and Pray 5-28-15

2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Colossians 4:2-3)

Thoughts: A devoted prayer life is both watchful and thankful.  Jesus said to watch and pray (Mt. 26:41; Lk. 21:35; Mk. 13:33; 14:48).  There was a watchfulness for Jesus' coming and also a watchfulness invoked to keep us from temptation.  Watchful here means we are watching for God's hand.  There are many who are not watchful for God but blind to God.  If God answers prayer and we do not see Him, we cannot give Him the glory He deserves.  If we feel our prayers are not answered, we should be watchful that He will act.  On the other hand, when God answers our prayers we should recognize it and be thankful.  Surely part of spirituality is to watch and pray.      Paul then asks that they would pray that God would open a door for them.  God does open doors of opportunities for us.  We must watch for them and give thanks when they come.  Paul also asks that he would be a good steward of the gospel and proclaim it clearly and not in a muddled or fearful fashion.  The gospel is such a golden key to hope for so many that we should look for opportunities to share it and then to make real use of such opportunities. 

Prayer: Lord, teach me to watch and pray.  Help me to search for you and find you at work and then be thankful.  Let me see the opportunities you set before me to do good in sharing your hope with others.  Let me proclaim it clearly- and help the preachers I know to be bold in taking opportunities set before them and proclaim the truth with clarity in these dark times.  

7/26/12- Specific Prayers

Ad don't forget to pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains.

Thoughts: Paul's request for prayer is not just for listening and for vague generalities.  Christian prayer is not simply meditation or for comfort.  We have a God who acts and is King of the universe.  So the Lord is the one who opens doors of opportunity for us.  We do not simply ask God for strength that we may open the door, or cope when the door is closed.  Our secular culture has seeped into our churches, because we seem to have lost faith that God can do anything.  Some falsely try to protect God by thinking they cannot ask God to do anything.  God had blessed us so much, but we seemed to have lost faith in His ability to bless (much less curse or withhold blessing) or open doors that are shut.  God is not so far removed, so deaf, with an arm that is so short that He cannot act in His creation.  We do not serve a God who simply created the universe like a clock maker winds a clock and then leaves- maybe until it is broken.  But we serve the God who opens doors when they are shut- who does impossibly more than all we ask or imagine- who raises Christ when He is dead.  So live like that today, and pray like that too!

Prayer: God, there are doors shut in your way- that are blocking your glory.  Open those doors- and use me to go through them, and take the opportunity to honor you today- for Christ's sake- for your honor- in Jesus' name- Amen.