CONTINUE IN PRAYER
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving
Colossians 4:2
Prayer should be part and parcel of the believer’s life. As a matter of fact, prayer needs to be a discipline in the Christian life.
Apostle Paul said in our opening scripture: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
The word “continue” used in the above scripture was translated from the Greek word “proskartereo”, which means “to be earnest towards, to persevere, to be constantly diligent”.
In other words, we are to be earnest in prayer; we are to persevere and be constantly diligent in prayer.
The Amplified version put it thus: “Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving”.
To be effective in prayer and for our prayer to be effective, we have to continue in prayer: we need to be constantly diligent in prayer. James, the apostle, said, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 Amp).
Tremendous power is made available by the earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man.
The above scripture is rendered in the New Living Translation: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results”.
You are the righteous the scripture refers to; your earnest (continued) prayer is powerful and effective.
Paul, while writing to the Church of God in Rome said
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER” (Romans 12:12).
When Peter was arrested and thrown into prison, Luke penned down the action of the church: “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5). He was miraculously delivered. We are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Do not cease praying until you see the manifestation of what you are praying for.
After the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, the disciples of Jesus continued in prayer “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14).
It is essential that we give ourselves continually to prayer. And after three thousand souls were added to the one hundred and twenty disciples,
Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”
Confession
My prayer is powerful and effective because I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, I give myself continually to prayer.
