Prayer Without Pause

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." — Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

If you are reading this, you are familiar with the idea of “devotions.” It is the time we take each day to read and study the Word, which is good. But Paul’s use of the word “Devote” in Colossians carries a deeper weight. 

The Greek verb proskartereite means to persist, to cling, to continue steadfastly. It’s not about a brief thought or a short reading—it’s about a life anchored in prayer.

Paul exhorts the church to devote themselves to prayer because prayer builds faith, strengthens endurance, and keeps us awake to God’s presence. It is the place of intercession, where we lift others before the Lord. It is the cry for deliverance, where we trust God to act in power. And it is the wellspring of thanksgiving, where gratitude reshapes our hearts. 

Prayer becomes not occasional, but the continual rhythm of life—both in our personal walk and in the prayers, we share as Christ’s body. Prayer is one of the means of grace by which God shapes us, keeping us watchful for His movement and thankful for His gifts.

For us, this means prayer is not simply a morning ritual or a closing word at a meeting. It is the ongoing posture of our hearts. It is that pause when we stop to pray for the emergency vehicle that passes, the breath prayer of thanks when we narrowly escaped harm's way, and for guidance in giving us the words for difficult conversations.

To devote ourselves in prayer is to keep turning toward God—when we are weary, when we are joyful, when we are uncertain. It is persistence that shapes us into people of hope.

As we hear Paul’s invitation today, let us consciously devote ourselves to the habit of prayer. Let it be the steady beat of our lives, and the rhythm that keeps us watchful and thankful.

Gracious God, teach us to devote ourselves to prayer—not as a duty, but as a delight. Make us steadfast in faith, bold in intercession, trusting in your deliverance, and overflowing with thanksgiving. May prayer be the rhythm that keeps us awake to your presence and alive in your Spirit. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim