A devotional on the importance of maintaining a daily quiet time:
Colossians 4:
2 - Continue in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3 - praying together also concerning us, 4 - in order that God may open to us an opportunity to spread the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, the cause for which indeed I have been bound, in order that I may manifest it as it behooves me to speak. 5 - Walk in wisdom toward unbelievers, redeeming the time.
We are commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually.” According to John Pollock, Billy Graham was once asked how often he prays. He answered, “All the time.” While I served as a counselor in two Billy Graham Crusades (in Louisville and Indianapolis), I never had the opportunity to meet him. But I don’t believe Billy Graham prays “all the time.” I think that more likely he has an attitude of prayer at all times.
In Colossians 4 we are urged to continue in prayer. Prayer should be a part of our daily quiet time, as we seek God to direct our steps. It should also be a part of our daily walk, and we should continue in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. We are likewise urged in verse 2 to “watch in it with thanksgiving.” As we study prayer in the Bible, it can be noted that thanksgiving is the proper way to approach the throne of God. We don’t go in with our petitions, and list everything we want and expect from God. We go in with a right attitude, approaching Him as the Supreme Being of the entire universe, and as our close friend, being thankful for what He has already supplied us with.
“Watching in it” – the first circumstance that brings to mind is Gethsemane, where Christ prayed before he was crucified. And all He asked his friends to do while He prayed was to watch and wait. And of course they fell asleep. That’s what this is conveying to us to avoid. Rise, be awake, stay awake…
The apostle Paul here is asking for the prayers of the saints so that he may have an open door to spread the Gospel, to testify about Christ, which is exactly what got him into trouble in the first place. He still yearns for chances to speak about Jesus as the Spirit moves him.
Verse 5 is the focal point of this study. We are to walk in wisdom as we witness. “Redeeming the time” in this instance is an imperative to make the most of what we have, in time and in opportunities, to rescue the time from being lost. There are 1440 minutes in a day. We don’t get any of them back. Use them wisely…
God expects us to tithe our money. We know that. We’re expected to give at least a tenth of what we have. But tithing should include not only a tenth of our money, but a portion of our time as well. Jesus spent time, and lots of it, in worship, thanksgiving, prayer, meditation and spreading the Good News. Shouldn’t we follow His example?
2 - Continue in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, 3 - praying together also concerning us, 4 - in order that God may open to us an opportunity to spread the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, the cause for which indeed I have been bound, in order that I may manifest it as it behooves me to speak. 5 - Walk in wisdom toward unbelievers, redeeming the time.
We are commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually.” According to John Pollock, Billy Graham was once asked how often he prays. He answered, “All the time.” While I served as a counselor in two Billy Graham Crusades (in Louisville and Indianapolis), I never had the opportunity to meet him. But I don’t believe Billy Graham prays “all the time.” I think that more likely he has an attitude of prayer at all times.
In Colossians 4 we are urged to continue in prayer. Prayer should be a part of our daily quiet time, as we seek God to direct our steps. It should also be a part of our daily walk, and we should continue in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. We are likewise urged in verse 2 to “watch in it with thanksgiving.” As we study prayer in the Bible, it can be noted that thanksgiving is the proper way to approach the throne of God. We don’t go in with our petitions, and list everything we want and expect from God. We go in with a right attitude, approaching Him as the Supreme Being of the entire universe, and as our close friend, being thankful for what He has already supplied us with.
“Watching in it” – the first circumstance that brings to mind is Gethsemane, where Christ prayed before he was crucified. And all He asked his friends to do while He prayed was to watch and wait. And of course they fell asleep. That’s what this is conveying to us to avoid. Rise, be awake, stay awake…
The apostle Paul here is asking for the prayers of the saints so that he may have an open door to spread the Gospel, to testify about Christ, which is exactly what got him into trouble in the first place. He still yearns for chances to speak about Jesus as the Spirit moves him.
Verse 5 is the focal point of this study. We are to walk in wisdom as we witness. “Redeeming the time” in this instance is an imperative to make the most of what we have, in time and in opportunities, to rescue the time from being lost. There are 1440 minutes in a day. We don’t get any of them back. Use them wisely…
God expects us to tithe our money. We know that. We’re expected to give at least a tenth of what we have. But tithing should include not only a tenth of our money, but a portion of our time as well. Jesus spent time, and lots of it, in worship, thanksgiving, prayer, meditation and spreading the Good News. Shouldn’t we follow His example?
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