HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY? – “DEVOTING OURSELVES TO PRAY”

“HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY?” is what we have been considering for the past few days. Many others may add many more valuable and insightful points to this critical, vast and almost inexhaustible subject. I wish to conclude this series on prayer with today’s meditation. I have come to realise, and surely most of us, that prayer is an important and essential means of communication that our LORD and our Redeemer had made possible for us. Therefore, we ought to “DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PRAYER” and be committed and consistent in the same. This is what the LORD says to us in His Word, the Bible.
– “2 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.”* – Colossians 4:2 [Amplified Version]

A few other translations of the Bible.
– “2 CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” – Colossians 4:2 [NKJV]
– “2 DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2 [NIV]
– “2 CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2 [ESV]
– “2 PERSEVERE IN PRAYER and be watching in it and giving thanks.” – Colossians 4:2 [Aramaic Bible in Plain English]

Literal translation versions of the Bible translate the same verse as follows.
– “2 CONTINUE IN THE PRAYER, WATCHING IN IT in thanksgiving,” – Colossians 4:2 [Literal Standard Version]
– “2 CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER, WATCHING IN IT in thanksgiving,” – Colossians 4:2 [Berean Literal Bible]

We understand from the above translations that prayer is considered very very important. We, as the disciples of the LORD Jesus, are encouraged and urged to pray UNCEASINGLY, PERSISTENTLY, AT ALL TIMES, and IN ALL SITUATIONS. Here are some of the words used by various translations for our understanding…
– BE PERSISTENT and DEVOTED to PRAYER, BEING ALERT and FOCUSED IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE
– DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER
– CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER
– CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER
– PERSEVERE IN PRAYER
– CONTINUE IN THE PRAYER

When all the above words, taken from different translations of the verse Colossians 4:2, this is what I could gather – we get a very specific and clear instruction to “DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PRAY”
– We are called to CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, and to CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER and to PERSEVERE IN PRAYER, where the emphasis is to “BE PERSISTENT and DEVOTED, BEING ALERT and FOCUSED IN OUR PRAYER LIFE.

Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon gives the meaning of “DEVOTE YOURSELVES” thus…
– “Devote Yourselves” – προσκαρτερεῖτε (proskartereite) : To persist, persevere in, continue steadfast in; I wait upon. – Strong’s Greek Lexicon – 4342.

The Berean Study Bible Notes comments on the Greek word for “devote” in Colossians 4:2 thus…
– “The Greek word for “devote” implies a steadfast and unwavering commitment, suggesting that prayer should be a regular and integral part of a believer’s life. This aligns with Jesus’ teachings in Luke 18:1, where He encourages His followers to always pray and not lose heart.” – Berean Study Bible Notes

To get a clearer insight into the seriousness of prayer, and why we should devote ourselves to prayer, and persevere it earnestly and steadfastly with utmost focus, we should look at the apostles and the early Church. They are the ones who saw the LORD Jesus in person. They are the ones who heard His words and His teaching, in person. Therefore, their practices and their teachings matter a lot on this subject of prayer.
– “42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42
“In the early church, prayer was a foundational practice…where believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer…The early Christians understood prayer as a means of aligning themselves with God’s will, seeking His guidance, and interceding for others.” observes the Berean Study Bible Notes.

Dear brothers and sisters let us also DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PRAYER. Let us pray unceasingly and persistently with perseverance and focus. Even so the LORD help us.