“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Colossians 4:2

It’s fairly easy for me to remember to be thankful right now, in this November season of Thanksgiving. My challenge is in being continually, unceasingly, thankful for all that God is doing in every minute of every day, all year long.  

In Colossians 4:2, Paul instructs us to devote ourselves to praying and to be watchful, in addition to being thankful. For me, devoting myself to prayer means being in constant conversation with God, inviting God into every aspect of my life – each thought, word, action, worry, decision; everything. It means seeking God’s peace always and everywhere, rather than jumping into frustration or annoyance, whether it’s a small thing like traffic making me late to the office or someone not loading the dishwasher in precisely the manner I’ve explained over and over, or a bigger issue like waiting for a diagnosis that isn’t coming quickly enough. I am trying to achieve such devotion to prayer, but it’s definitely a work in progress for me.

Paul also says that we are to be watchful. God is perpetually watching over each one of us.  It seems reasonable that God would want each of us to continually and intentionally look for – indeed, expect to see – God’s presence everywhere and always; to become hyper-aware of God’s loving kindness, and therefore ever more thankful to God. 

In my mind, the first two tasks Paul mentions, praying and watching, are instrumental in opening wide the door to thankfulness. I love the rush of joy and relief I feel when I see God answering a prayer. I treasure the peaceful, uplifted feeling I have on Sundays at church. How amazing it would be to feel that joy, that sense of relief and peacefulness in every minute of every day! Is that even possible? I choose to believe it is. 

Prayer:
Loving God, thank you for the millions of blessings you give us every day. Please help us devote ourselves to prayer, and teach us to be watchful and thankful to you always and everywhere.