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.
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