Hopefully Devoted to Prayer...?

The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Colossian Christians to "devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2, NRSV). Many of us think of ourselves as devoted to many things. We are devoted to our spouses, to our jobs, to our families, to our pets, to the maintenance and upkeep of our homes and cars, and to our favorite sports teams (College and Professional!). We are devoted to our favorite pasttimes - card games, social clubs, hobbies and interests. We are a devoted people.

But what does that word mean? DEVOTED. (Say it often enough and it begins to sound a little strange - like something you would do on a bizarre reality show on TV! "She was devoted off the island!)

Devoted: adj. 1. Feeling or displaying strong affection or attachment; ardent. 2. Having been consecrated, dedicated. (source: American Heritage College Dictionary)

It seems we all understand that first definition - which is what I was referring to in the above paragraphs. When we are devoted to something, we tend to show strong affection for that something. We are ardent Aggie or Longhorn supporters (or Red Raiders, or wherever it was that you attended or support currently!). We are devoted!

But I believe that Paul was trying to get at the second meaning in his verse to the Colossians. When Paul commands (notice he did not ask his readers!) that they be devoted to prayer, he is talking about something deeper than a feeling of attachment or affection. He is talking about something that is consecrated, dedicated, holy. When we devote ourselves to prayer, and keep alert in it with thanksgiving, we are participating in a holy moment - a holy connection with the Lord of all creation.

This past week, my mother has undergone a battery of tests to determine if she has a blockage in her heart. Nuclear stress tests, EKG's, MRI's, and all those other alphabet soup tests were conducted. While there was little I could do for her, the one thing that I could do was to pray. And so I did. Fervently. Ardently. And most especially with consecrated dedication. I also asked everyone I knew to pray with me for her. And they all agreed.

I have shared this with many people, and they have all shared with me similar stories - the power of prayer works. We cannot explain it, but it does. Physicians, psychologists, and a host of other scientists have attempted to get at why prayer works for people. Without any firm evidence, the only conclusion drawn is that it just does.

I think I have an idea why it works. I think Paul did too. It has to do with that consecrated, dedicated connection with the Holy when we pray. Keep alert in your prayers, and you'll have a reason to be thankful, too!

See you in Church!

Grace and peace,
Brad