December 29th
Fifth Day of Christmas
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4
Paul begins the final touches of his letter. Remember that Paul builds his letter as a contractor builds a house. This last chapter of Colossians puts the important final touches on the house… prayer, gratitude, outward grace, and community. Often, we overlook these seemingly unimportant last instructions but, like the final details on a house, these final instructions complete the overall picture of Paul’s letter.
In the beginning of Colossians, Paul began his letter by praying for the Colossian people. Now, at the end of his letter, Paul asks the Colossians to devote themselves to prayer… and to pray for him. Paul understands that prayer changes hearts. Prayer transforms us into disciples who make disciples. Prayer grows us into maturity. I wonder, am I devoted to prayer? Are you?
To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ.
Richard Foster
Celebration of Discipline
I need not wonder… and I must confess… I am not devoted to prayer, at least not as I should be... Can you relate? During certain seasons of life, my knees have felt worn and God has molded this stubborn heart. But too often my desire to pray fails to translate into actual prayer. And the less I pray… the less I pray.
Paul asks the Colossians to pray for him, specifically that God might open doors to share the Gospel. Paul’s singular focus convicts this heart. Who among us can live as Paul? Who among us prays for hours a day? Who among us has a singular focus to share the Gospel? And if we can’t live up to Paul, should we respond in despair and give up?
Friends be encouraged! Jesus invites us into deeper faith one step at a time. Learning to pray is a process, a process of success and failure. During this Christmas season, let us respond to Jesus’ invitation to grow in relationship with Him. Let us learn how to pray, one step at a time. Here are some possible simple first steps:
As you prepare for work in the morning, turn off the news or music. Instead pray.
Take a daily walk in silence and prayer.
In a busy household, a prayer journal allows for prayer while children play.
In the car, turn off the radio and just listen for God’s still quiet voice.
Wake up ten minutes early and be still before the Lord.
Paul invites the Colossian people (and us) to pray because prayer transforms hearts. As we approach the New Year, as we journey to Epiphany, let us make space for Jesus, let us take one step forward in discipleship.
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