Colossians 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Did you ever notice that you pray more often when you have a problem than when you don’t? Why is that? When you pray, do you pray more about concerns and situations or thanking God for various blessings? My husband and I are doing together a forty days of gratitude challenge, and writing down three things for each day that we are thankful for on paper. We share them in the evening with each other. It has been much to our surprise that we find we have often written down one or two of the same things that praises a gratitude of thankfulness for that day.
The Greek word proskartereo’ (pros-kar-ter-eh’-o) translated continue, in Colossians 4:2, definition is to attend constantly. To “persist, persevere in, continue steadfast in; I wait upon. To continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty (Strong’s concordance).” Next, the word steadfastly takes persistence, and requires great effort steadily applied. It implies zeal. I am thankful for my mother’s earnest prayers for me that were persistent and repeated daily. Then when she saw answers taking place, she continued faithfully thanking the Lord for working in my life. She was an example to me of this verse.
Here are a few other Bible versions of Colossians 4:2 besides the ESV:
- Philipps: Always maintain the habit of prayer: be both alert and thankful as you pray. Include us in your prayers, please, that God may open for us a door for the entrance of the Gospel. Pray that we may talk freely of the mystery of Christ (for which I am at present in chains), and that I may make that mystery plain to men, which I know is my duty.
- NKJV: Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.
- MSG: Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.
- HCSB: Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.
Do you have someone heavy on your heart? Don’t give up in intercessory prayer for them, despite seeing all the many difficulties and impossibilities going on. Pray earnestly and diligently for them and for God to use you in opening your mouth at the correct times, in making Christ plain as day to them (saying taken from the 1800s shortening of plain as the sun at midday) and plain as the nose on your face (saying from the 1600s). Pray for clarity in obvious word choices regarding their need for Christ, and easy to understand. It takes persistence, and yes, great effort steadily applied. Then thank God for His presence, persistence in your own life, and with zeal let not your faith waver, as you wait and are watchful for results. You have more influence than you realize. If the answers come slowly like a red light that is stuck, and you are already at the green light, remember, God sees and He is there.
Listen to Word Of God Speak – Mercy Me.