Another day in Colossians 4...
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col 4:2-6 (ESV)
Today, we will look at the next phrase... 'being watchful in it with thanksgiving'. If we don't pray specifically, then how will we know our prayer has been answered? Sometimes we pray things that are so vague that there is no way to know if it has been answered or not. For example, if we say 'Lord, be with Sue this week' but we don't ask God to do anything specifically, then have we asked Him to do something different from what He has already promised to do? Did He not say in scriptures over and over that He is with us wherever we go? But if we ask God to be with Sue this week as she goes to the doctor so that she will know no matter what that God is giving her strength and endurance during a difficult time... then we have asked for something. That's where being 'watchful' comes in.
After we pray for something to happen, we need to be watching for the answers to come. If God answers the prayer but we don't see the answer, we keep asking for something that has already happened. If we ask 'random' prayers, we have no idea where to look for the answers but if we pray specifically, then we know what to look for.
And now for the other key word in the second phrase... thanksgiving. When you thank God for something you have been praying for? The first time you pray about it. If you wait until the prayer is answered, you may give up before the answer comes or you may not give God the credit that He deserves. So thank Him from the beginning and say something like "Lord, even though I don't see it yet with my physical eyes, I have faith that You are already taking care of this situation and I thank You for that.' By thanking God on the front end, you no longer have to carry the burden anymore because you have given it to Him to take care of. And when your hands are no longer carrying a burden, then they are free to use when you praise the Lord or serve your neighbor... Keep praying!
A blog produced by Rolling Fork Baptist Church designed to help Christians live out their faith in their homes, their work places, their schools, and their communities.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER
Today, I want to return to these verses again and you will see why in a moment...
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col 4:2-6 (ESV)
Look at the first two words of verse 2... "Continue steadfastly". Is your prayer life on a continual basis or is it off and on depending on how busy you are or what emotions you are going through? The apostle Paul says says to continue praying. In 1 Thessalonians 5, he says to 'pray without ceasing'. Not just praying when you get a bad report from the doctor. Not just praying when you need more money in your bank account. But continually.
The second word, 'steadfastly', means to "endure patiently. A steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end. Paul said Jesus was a person of steadfastness (Rom. 15:3-4). The NAS translates steadfastness with “perseverance” (2 Thess. 1:4). James said that trials that test our faith produce steadfastness (1:3 KJV “patience”; NAS “endurance”; NIV “perseverance”).—Holman Bible Dictionary"
So as we pray each day, let it be continual throughout the day and not just occasionally. Let us be faithful in our prayers patiently waiting for the answer. Amen?
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col 4:2-6 (ESV)
Look at the first two words of verse 2... "Continue steadfastly". Is your prayer life on a continual basis or is it off and on depending on how busy you are or what emotions you are going through? The apostle Paul says says to continue praying. In 1 Thessalonians 5, he says to 'pray without ceasing'. Not just praying when you get a bad report from the doctor. Not just praying when you need more money in your bank account. But continually.
The second word, 'steadfastly', means to "endure patiently. A steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end. Paul said Jesus was a person of steadfastness (Rom. 15:3-4). The NAS translates steadfastness with “perseverance” (2 Thess. 1:4). James said that trials that test our faith produce steadfastness (1:3 KJV “patience”; NAS “endurance”; NIV “perseverance”).—Holman Bible Dictionary"
So as we pray each day, let it be continual throughout the day and not just occasionally. Let us be faithful in our prayers patiently waiting for the answer. Amen?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
"WHAT GETS WET AS IT DRIES?"
Last night, our son, Blake, asked us a riddle. "What gets wet as it dries?" Rhonda and I didn't guess the answer so he gave it to us... "a TOWEL". We laughed because it was a good riddle but this morning after my prayer time in my office, I thought about the connection between that towel and our church family (no, I am not asking you to figure out this riddle.). When you use a towel, you want one that is dry and clean. As you use the towel, the moisture is removed from you by the towel. And once the towel has done it's job, you feel better, right? (I know what you thinking right now... you are thinking "so what does that have to do with your church family?")
You wanted the towel because you were needing something to remove something (water in this case) from your body. If the towel was already wet, it would not dry you and if the towel was dirty, it would get you dirty as well.
Maybe there is something in your life, not "just on your body", that needs to be removed. If you have a church family, they can help share that burden with you. In fact, just as the towel did it's job by taking the water off your body, the church family does it's 'job' by taking some of the burden off you. If the church family wasn't ready to do it's job (like a dry towel), it couldn't help you either. And if the church family wasn't spiritually minded (clean), they couldn't and wouldn't help you. I like what my wife just told me. She says a towel can wrap around you to warm you up. And can a church family.
That's why it is so important that we pray for each other continually. That's why we should ask "how can I pray for you today?". God does not want to us to try and carry our own burdens without giving them to Him. Our church family helps us take those burdens off of our backs and lay them at the feet of Jesus. So, my friend, how can I pray for you?
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 (ESV)
You wanted the towel because you were needing something to remove something (water in this case) from your body. If the towel was already wet, it would not dry you and if the towel was dirty, it would get you dirty as well.
Maybe there is something in your life, not "just on your body", that needs to be removed. If you have a church family, they can help share that burden with you. In fact, just as the towel did it's job by taking the water off your body, the church family does it's 'job' by taking some of the burden off you. If the church family wasn't ready to do it's job (like a dry towel), it couldn't help you either. And if the church family wasn't spiritually minded (clean), they couldn't and wouldn't help you. I like what my wife just told me. She says a towel can wrap around you to warm you up. And can a church family.
That's why it is so important that we pray for each other continually. That's why we should ask "how can I pray for you today?". God does not want to us to try and carry our own burdens without giving them to Him. Our church family helps us take those burdens off of our backs and lay them at the feet of Jesus. So, my friend, how can I pray for you?
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 (ESV)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
WOULD YOU PRAY FOR US?
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col 4:2-6 (ESV)
These verses really grabbed my attention this week. I know I have read them many times before but not like this time. As a pastor, I am experiencing a personal revival right now and have been for the last few weeks. As energizing as that is, I also see even more need for us to pray for each other, for our churches, our communities, our nation, and yes, our world.
As we pray, we need to be thankful to God for all that He is, has done, and has promised to do. We need to pray for all pastors, worship leaders, teachers, deacons, trustees, etc. We need to pray for all those who work in the church's nurseries and kitchens. We need to pray for those who type the bulletins and those who clean the floors. BECAUSE OUR CHURCHES NEED TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR JESUS CHRIST. WILL YOU PRAY FOR US?
These verses really grabbed my attention this week. I know I have read them many times before but not like this time. As a pastor, I am experiencing a personal revival right now and have been for the last few weeks. As energizing as that is, I also see even more need for us to pray for each other, for our churches, our communities, our nation, and yes, our world.
As we pray, we need to be thankful to God for all that He is, has done, and has promised to do. We need to pray for all pastors, worship leaders, teachers, deacons, trustees, etc. We need to pray for all those who work in the church's nurseries and kitchens. We need to pray for those who type the bulletins and those who clean the floors. BECAUSE OUR CHURCHES NEED TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR JESUS CHRIST. WILL YOU PRAY FOR US?
Monday, January 17, 2011
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