Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ~ Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
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Devoted people are pretty obvious, aren't they? A devoted husband may be known for bringing flowers home regularly, or giving full attention to his wife wherever they go. A devoted fan of a music group will probably have the band's posters on the wall, and their iPod crammed full of all their albums. Visible expressions of devoted people are plentiful, not because they need others to know they're devoted, but just because they are. They can't hardly help themselves. They're in love.
So Paul exhorts us to devote ourselves to prayer. To be in love with communicating with God. To cling committedly, with all that we have, to thanking and petitioning the Lord. To be loyal. To be diligent. To be devoted.
Why is it so hard for us to do that? Why is it that sometimes the only time we bow our heads is over our meals and (maybe) at bedtime? How ritualistic have we become in the act of prayer?
The first-century church seemed to do a lot of praying together. It wouldn't surprise me if they prayed hour after hour! The Book of Acts records their devotion to prayer -- check it out sometime. But we often think that two minutes of prayer is sufficient and start rolling our eyes and checking our watches if someone has the nerve to pray five minutes...heaven forbid ten! Where is our devotion? Where is God in our schedule and our priorities?
A year or so ago, several of my friends began gathering once a week to pray. We decided there were no rules, no schedule. We just wanted to pray, to bring our hearts before God and thank and petition Him as the Holy Spirit moved. Those times were the most meaningful times I've ever spent in prayer. Tears were regular, as we just talked to God. We didn't take turns in a circle and make some feel uncomfortable. Anyone prayed who wanted to pray, and not just once. As many times as the Lord laid something on someones heart. And some requests were prayed over more than once. Repetition was okay, because we were just talking to God, and He's okay with us repeating ourselves. Sometimes when we felt spent, we'd close with an 'amen' and look at the clock. Wow -- an hour? Gee, who knew? And who cared?
Cultures outside the U.S., many who have immigrated here, have very different ideas about time and devotion to the Lord. Church services and prayer times can last for hours, but they don't seem concerned. Their devotion to God and to prayer outweigh the clock. I feel ashamed when I realize that our schedules and our watches claim our devotion, rather than the God who loves us and wants our attention through prayer.
One more example that has stuck with me: I read in a book once about Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's habits. They gather together for a full hour to pray before their three-hour rehearsal! Wow, that impressed me. That is devotion to prayer, not just a quick two-minute "nod to God".
Devotion to prayer can take many forms. It can include long periods in a quiet place alone . . . communicating with the Lord "on the fly" as you go about your day . . . or gathering with other believers to corporately speak to the Lord. God simply wants your communication with Him to take precedence in your life. He wants devotion. So I challenge you to evaluate your heart and see what is claiming devotion in your life. Is it God and prayer with Him, or something else?
Love,
Joelene
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