The Weekly Word - A Devotion for the Week of February 17
Devote yourselves in prayer, being watchful and thankful.
-- Colossians 4:2
You might recall Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) -- which sounds like a worthy practice…until we endeavor to achieve such an ambitious goal in real life. The fact is, to pray without ceasing is challenging for even the most saintly among us. Despite our best intentions, the demands and distractions of daily life often get in the way of our devotion.
The good news, though, is that in his letter to the Colossians, Paul offers some guidance as to how we might come closer to living a life of continuous prayer. Turns out, simply being watchful – fully present to God’s presence even amid the busyness of our lives – can be a kind of prayer. Likewise, being grateful in all circumstances can be another way we pray.
Most of us were taught from our youngest days to pray in a particular way, perhaps with specific words and gestures. But as Paul reminds us, prayer can take many forms…or even no form at all. We sit quietly in the peace of God’s loving presence, our eyes and ears open to all the ways He moves among us. We offer our gratitude for His many blessings both big and small. These, too, are our prayers.
Gracious God, today I sit quietly thankful for Your loving presence and protection. I open my eyes and see You in all the people and places of my life. I lift up this moment as a loving prayer to You. Amen.