Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Colossians 4:2 NLT
While it is crucial to pray until something happens, it is critically important to know that something happens when we pray.
Therefore, the key to praying until something happens is to know that something happens when we pray. That is an active exercise of faith! Our Lord Jesus Christ says,
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
In other words, God is always attentive to us when we pray to Him and always grants our requests.
When we know that something happens when we pray, we will stay alert in prayer. Our opening scripture says, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart” (Colossians 4:2 NLT).
We are to pray with an alert mind! This means to be attentive, listening, and looking for direction and instruction from the Lord as we pray.
This shows that prayer is not a monologue (a long speech by one person during a conversation that stops other people from speaking or expressing an opinion) but a dialogue (a conversation between two or more people where both parties are allowed to express their opinion).
Prayer is a dialogue between God and man. We speak to God, and He speaks to us. Prayer entails speaking and listening! In prayer, we are not supposed to do all the talking; God has something to say to us in instruction and direction.
As a matter of fact, God has more to speak to us than we have to tell Him.
Therefore, when you’re praying, you need to stay alert, listen, and look for direction from the Lord.
Effectiveness in prayer begins when you learn to listen to God. Don’t forget that answers are received in the place of prayer. What if the answer to your prayer comes in the form of instruction?
You will short-change yourself if you’re not listening to the Lord. Your prayer is powerful and effective; stay alert when you’re praying.
The Amplified Version translates Colossians 4:2 as “Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving”. You must learn to listen as you pray.
Confession
Thank you, Father, for the privilege of prayer. I devote myself to prayer with an alert mind, listening and looking for direction from the Lord as I pray with a thankful heart.
