Day 9 - Commitment

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart (Colossians 4:2 NLT) 

This is probably one of the hardest words to live out in our present day. We are such a society that wants change and is looking for the newest thing out there! For many, devoting yourself to something or someone is just not in the cards. Whether that is committing to volunteer somewhere, choosing to marry someone, or stay true to your word. Commitment is a hazy word these days.

Merriam-Webster defines the word "devote" as "to commit by a solemn act," or "to give over or direct (time, money, effort, etc.) to a cause, enterprise, or activity." To say you will commit and actually direct your time/money/energy to that commitment… ugh. In this passage, the apostle Paul says to devote ourselves to prayer. To commit to pray and give our resources to it.

In this new year, we make new resolutions and goals, ones that we hope to keep. Some do accomplish that. Many do not. When we treat prayer as a "New Year's resolution," we run the risk of stepping in and out of it. Saying "oops, I did it again!" When in fact, committing ourselves to prayer is much bigger. It's more like a marriage commitment (which is the picture of Christ and the church!), a solemn pledge to love in sickness and health, on the good days and bad. A pledge to stay in communion with God, choosing daily to prioritize Him over the daily busyness.

Devotion to prayer has two major ingredients in this passage: being alert and being thankful. These two components enable us to stick to prayer. To stay committed to our relationship with Jesus. Choosing to be alert (not sleeping!) and choosing in every circumstance to be thankful enables our prayer life to flourish!

Jesus, would you show me what being alert and thankful in prayer look like for me?

MY