[Devote yourselves to prayer,] being watchful and thankful.
Summary: With two simple words Paul ties the topic of prayer to two of the most powerful scenes in the life of Jesus.
When we devote ourselves to prayer, as Paul says, to “pray without ceasing,”* he tells us to be “watchful and thankful.”
The Greek word for “watchful” is “grēgoreúō,” meaning the same as the English word. Paul wants us to keep awake and be vigilant.
Matthew uses the same word, “grēgoreúō,” when he quotes Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is about to be arrested and crucified, but before these things happen, he spends time in prayer. He takes Peter, James, and John with him and says, “Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).
Why is being watchful important? Jesus says, “… keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42).
People who are not watchful are not paying attention. It sounds like a solid biblical principle that we should keep our eyes open and keep them on God.
Paul pairs this vigilance with another vital attitude. The second word Paul uses is “thankful.”
The Greek word he used is “eucharistía.” If this word sounds familiar, it should. It is the same word we get our English word “Eucharist” from. This word is taken from the story of the Last Supper, where it says:
“Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:27-28)
The word “thanks” in Matthew’s account is the same word Paul uses.
I mention all of this because, with two simple words, Paul has reminded us of two very important things: The Last Supper and Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. If you wanted a picture of how to pray, there is none more powerful than these two.
Pray with watchfulness because Jesus is watching, and we don’t know when he is going to come for us. Pray with thankfulness because of what Jesus did for us, sacrificing his flesh and blood for our eternal salvation.
With these two things in mind, prayer takes on a whole new meaning. Our attitude is one of attentive thankfulness.
Application: Be watchful and thankful (It is hard to improve on Paul’s words!)
Food for Thought: What happens to our prayer life if we are not watchful and thankful?
*1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV
Image: By Carl Bloch – http://www.carlbloch.org/The-Last-Supper.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10115340
What happens to our prayer life if we are not watchful and thankful?
It could possibly become a mumbling prayer of words.
or you could fall asleep when your supposed to be keeping an eye out for the Lord, ( not saying Peter’s name) keeping guard over those whom are trying to spend time in prayer or worshipping our Lord.
Thank you, Tim!
Not just for your words, but for all you do.
If we are not watchful and thankful, then I suppose we are not alert and we can become demanding, feeling entitled . Our prayer focus becomes weak and so does our faith. In any battle discipline and vigilance is required. This is also true in a spiritual battle.
As T points out, we are asleep during the conflict. And that does not end well.
Ephesians 5: 11 – 20: Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Rich!
Great points! Your idea about becoming demanding and entitled is interesting, and, I think, true. If we step out of God’s presence, we lose perspective, and fall into trap of thinking we are the center of everything.
Great meditation and comments this morning!
What happens to our prayer life if we are not watchful and thankful?
Jeremiah 18:12, But they will say, That is hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act in accordance with the stubbornness of his evil heart.
Prayer is a vital part of our Christian life. Without prayer we risk anxiety, loss of hope, and spiritual death as we separate ourselves from God and place our reliance on our own reasoning.
Prayer strengthens a believers faith, provides peace, as it connects us with our Lord.
Without prayer, we forfeit the guidance and comfort that only God can provide.
Mathew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches believers how we should pray.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. “
Thank you, Ron.
Prayer keeps us connected to God in many ways!
Really good answers here this morning!
What happens to our prayer life if we are not watchful and thankful?
We lose the urgency of the Gospel of Christ, and we lose the joy of reconciliation with the Father.
Urgency of the Gospel of Christ:
Matthew 24:36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
When we are not watchful, we become complacent in our faith, satisfied with what Christ has done for us and not filled with concern for others that need to receive the gift of salvation.
The joy of reconciliation:
Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
If we are not thankful for what Christ has done and is doing in our lives and in the lives of others, we are hostile.
Thank you, Chris!
It is easy to lose sight of what is going on if we take our eyes off the ball.