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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 31 July 2024:
Colossians 4:1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 4:2 – Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
How is your prayer life? Today’s readings tell us to continue “steadfastly” in prayer, from the Greek word proskartereō, which means to powerfully persevere with continuous diligence and courage, never growing faint or quitting. This is not casual prayer but rather deeply earnest, fervent prayer, a relentless struggle in prayer as described in Colossians 4:12. The prayer described here is persistent and enduring – “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Are you praying continuously, earnestly, and fervently?
Today’s readings tell us that when you pray, you should “be watchful” in your prayers. Anticipate God’s answer to your prayers, and pay attention. God may (likely) answer your prayer in ways you never anticipated. The Bible also tells us to pray with thanksgiving. This involves trusting God with all your circumstances and genuinely believing that He will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Thanksgiving also involves trusting that God’s “No” response to some of your prayers is far better than the “Yes” for which you had hoped. Are your prayers full of thanksgiving?
The practical application of steadfast, watchful, thankful praying essentially involves continuously and intentionally walking and talking with God in joyful, enthusiastic partnership for His will and glory. As you talk with God as your Master who calls you friend, you assume that whatever happens next is part of His answer to your prayers, what your perfect Father, Shepherd wants for you, and you embrace your circumstances with thanksgiving and eagerness, making the most of the opportunity. Your prayer life becomes far more than a bunch of requests – what should I do, and what will you give me – it is also an intimate conversation with the One you love as you adore Him and simply enjoy life with Him, sharing the good times and hard times with the One closest to you. Your prayer life is intimacy with God, perhaps the most practical expression of your relationship with Him. It is also the most practical way to strengthen your relationship with Him, to really get to know Him. If you are like most people and feel like your prayer life is suffering, pray and continue praying. What feels awkward at first will become natural and more than comfortable over time. In human relationships, it is always challenging to start a conversation with someone you don’t know very well, even more so with someone of great prominence. Naturally, conversing with God, who intentionally communicates at a different level and way than people do (for our benefit, which requires too great an explanation for today’s notes) can be challenging at first, and you might feel like He is not hearing you. However, unlike conversing with people, conversations with God, who speaks directly to your spirit, knows everything about you, wants only the very best for you, and promises to be fully known by you as He works all things out for good reaches a level of satisfaction, joy, and love which cannot be experienced with anyone else. Most people talk to themselves more than anyone else. A great way to practice praying continuously is by simply talking to God instead of yourself – unlike talking with yourself, He is a far better listener who won’t flatter you, condemn you, deceive you, misguide you, or ignore you. He will give you Himself, which is Life itself.
“Pray also for us….” (Colossians 4:3) Finally, if you do a word search in the Bible for “pray,” you will find the vast majority of verses on prayer involve praying for someone else and for the advancement of the Kingdom, rather than on personal wants, desires, and concerns. Also, most praying is done in fellowship with other believers. Isn’t this the example Jesus gave us in the Lord’s prayer? ‘Our Father, (not My Father)…. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…. Just give me what I really need today and nothing more (daily bread), and help me forgive others and abstain from sin.’ Today’s readings give an example of group prayer for others and for the advancement of the Gospel – “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— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak…. always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” (Colossians 4:3, 4, 12) Notice that, surprisingly, Paul didn’t ask his fellow believers to pray for his release from prison. His prayers were not self-centered by rather Christ-centered. For what and for whom are you praying earnestly, fervently and thankfully, and why?
Colossians 4:5-6 — Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Walking is one step at a time in the now, and wisdom is knowledge rightly and skillfully applied. Wisdom is doing and saying the right things, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons. Since the only One who has complete awareness, understanding, and intention is God, wisdom cannot be applied without His guidance. If you could not and fully understand everything in God’s word, you still could not know what is truly in the hearts of other people or how circumstances around you are unfolding, so you cannot rightly apply God’s word into a relationship or situation without the leading of the Holy Spirit, another reason to keep talking with God. If you are conversing with God, abiding in His presence, the way you simultaneously talk to others will be gracious, well received, and in accordance with God’s will for that person. As an ambassador and image bearer of God, your words and ways will be His words and ways, the very best. Being with you and talking with you certainly won’t be a waste of anyone’s time.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 31 July 2024: Today, examine your prayer life, and “continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Focus your prayers on the advancement of the Gospel and the needs of others.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 