Week 3 — Friday: Be Watchful In Prayer

Colossians 4:2-4 

Our life group recently finished Colossians. I’ve read Colossians before, so “be watchful and thankful” wasn’t new, but this time I stopped at the word “watchful” (NIV). Watchful for what and why? 

My first thought, of course, was the garden, the disciples, Jesus telling them to watch and pray then finding them sleeping because their eyes were heavy. Jesus specifically tells Peter to watch and pray so he won’t fall into temptation. Okay, watch against sleeping; against being so weary with the cares and distractions of life that we let our guard down and are less likely to pray and more likely to fall into temptation. But what else? 

When I’m drawn to a verse, I like to look it up in various translations, write them down, then compare the different wording. Does the meaning change? 

The Amplified Version says, “being alert and focused”. Okay, keep my thoughts focused, not wandering, not veering off into unreality or vain imaginations. Lord, help me keep my requests from being all about me, and more “Thy will be done.” 

The Common English Bible says, “guard your prayers with thanksgiving.” I like that. The Bible says a lot about giving thanks and the dangers of not giving thanks. We sing about giving thanks. But I never considered thanksgiving could guard our prayers, maybe making them more effective, closer to God’s will. 

The Living Bible says, “watch for God’s answers.” Several verses in the Psalms talk about waiting for the Lord to answer prayers. Here I picture actively watching for and expecting an answer. Often, I pray and then kind of shrug my shoulders and figure God will do what He wants. He intends for us to pray, He invites us to pray, so we learn to rely on and trust Him, so He can show Himself to be faithful. Therefore, when we pray, we should watch for His answers, knowing His ways are always best. 

Be watchful in prayer! 

—CONTRIBUTED BY ROBIN LAFRENIERE, BVG BUSINESS OFFICE—