Why pray?

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)

Why pray?

I think we see several reasons in Paul’s instructions on how to pray.

“Stay alert in it.”

Those words remind me of Jesus’ words to his disciples.

Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

We pray so that we can be aware of how Satan is trying to attack us during the day.

We pray because we are weak. And we need God’s strength as we face Satan’s attacks and the trials we face each day.

But just as importantly, we pray so that we can see what God is doing around us and join in with what he’s doing, making the most of every opportunity he gives us. (5)

There’s one more reason to pray, though. To remember God’s goodness. To remember his grace and toward us. And as we remember and rest in those things, we start to live each day with gratefulness and joy.

So let us pray each day, staying alert in it, full of thanksgiving.