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Making Prayer a Priority

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Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2

Paul is telling us to be devoted to prayer, because it shows our faith and dependence on the Lord. The more we pray, communing with the Lord the more he guides us through our day. Being self-sufficient and putting too much confidence in self can make it difficult for us to depend on the Lord. It’s our dependence on the Lord that drives our heart to pray.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) We live to minister to everyone and we cannot do that without Christ in us. It is through prayer that we ask Christ to speak to the Spirit and guide us in ministry, guiding our words and scriptures with a loving, compassionate heart.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Praying without ceasing implies we commune with the Lord throughout our day. We rejoice because of our salvation in Christ which drives our thankful heart toward prayer. Making prayer a priority means we are giving the Lord priority in our life.

Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37) If we truly love the Lord shouldn’t we want to know him and be close to him? How can we be close to the Lord unless we talk to him in prayer and listen to him in our thoughts and in his Word. We show our love by obeying his commands, reflecting his love to others, and by prayer, which shows our desire to be close to him and to know him.

Today, spend time in both praying and communing with the Lord. Do everything to please him by being a light for Christ in this dark world. Whatever you are doing today ask for the Lord’s guidance and be Christ-like is all situations.

Prayer: Lord, draw me closer to you and help me to make prayer a priority as I depend more on you and less on self. Guide my heart to depend on you today, to walk in your love and your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen