What does the word diligent mean to you? If you are diligent, you are alert, you are thorough, attentive, hard working, etc. If we want to continue earnestly in prayer as it says in Col 4:2, we have to be alert and be diligent! When we pray earnestly, we pray with purpose, and as believers, we want our purpose to line up with God’s purpose. In our times of prayer, we can pour out our heart so that we can see the heart of God. We can experience His love, and have that same love motivate us to love others, and in turn, we can pray for their hearts to turn toward God, and then we can love them into the His kingdom. Our earnest diligent commitment to pray, can change the world, one life at a time.
I love that this verse also ties gratitude and thanksgiving to prayer. Once we ask, we continue watchfully with thanksgiving. What we are doing is showing our appreciation in advance for God answering our prayer. Another way to say that is what Mark 11:24 says, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. If we believe it is ours, we say thank you!
Let’s pray this way today, Father, in the Name of Jesus, we are thankful that you hear us and want us to come into your presence in prayer. Today we ask you to help us be more aware of needs around us, and then we commit to being diligent to pray. We are thankful that we know you are working in each situation and we are so thankful to be partnered with you to make a difference on the earth. We take our opportunity to pray as a responsibility. We commit to pray, we believe we have received and we are thankful for your faithfulness! In Jesus Name, AMEN.
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