Continue in Prayer, and Watch in the Same with Thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2)

2023-01-26

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2)

Part of praying is “watching.” What are watching for?

When Sanballat and company tried to stop the work in rebuilding Jerusalem, Nehemiah said, “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them” (Nehemiah 4:9). They knew there was physical danger from these men, so the Jews prayed, looking out for the enemy.

In Gethsemane, the Lord told His disciples, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). This is like Nehemiah’s situation because they anticipated danger; this time, they anticipated the Lord’s arrest. However, a deeper truth is here: we are fundamentally weak, but our strength is in relying on the Lord. Our willing spirit must rely on the Lord because of our infirmity. We must trust Him, for our weakness poses great danger.

We also ought to pray and watch for the Lord’s coming: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:33). And again, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). And again, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).

We do not watch and pray alone. We watch and pray for and with other believers: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

And when we watch and pray, we do so with thanksgiving: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).