“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 CSB

Guard Your Prayers With Thanksgiving

I have a little sticky note on my desk at work that says, “Guard your prayers with thanksgiving.” I wish I would’ve written a date or a Scripture reference down, but I didn’t. I’m thinking maybe I was listening to the podcast teaching on this portion of Scripture from our Women’s Bible Study last year. All I know is it intrigues me every time I look at it.

I know the holiday of Thanksgiving has come and gone, yet we are admonished to be in an attitude of thanksgiving year round.

When I am devoting myself to prayer, I’m giving constant attention to it. I’m talking to God on a continual basis. I’m sure we all have unanswered prayers, those deep heart things we take to God over and over, waiting for Him to answer—knowing He can, yet fearing He might not. He wants me to trust Him in those situations; He wants to give me peace. (Philippians 4:6-7). He wants me to persist in my prayers, even when I don’t understand why a situation is staying the way it is.

Chuck Smith, in his sermon notes on this verse at blueletterbible.com, had these thoughts:

  1. I think that many times we are guilty of giving up too soon. Daniel (Daniel 10:11-13)
  2. Sometimes God delays the answers to our prayers that he might bring us into harmony with His purposes. Hannah & Samuel (1 Samuel 1)
  3. Sometimes God delays that He might give us more. Lazarus (John 11:1-44)

This “stay alert” means to be watchful in, employ the most punctilious (meticulous, conscientious, diligent, painstaking, rigorous) care in a thing—showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.

Thanksgiving here is simply the giving of thanks for God’s blessings.

The way to guard my prayers, the longing of my heart, is by meticulously and painstakingly thanking God for the blessings He’s already given me. As I focus on who He is and what He’s already done, I find the peace I’m longing for, the peace He longs to guard my heart and mind with. Philippians 4:4 tells me to “rejoice in the Lord always” and Philippians 4:8 to dwell on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy. When I dwell on any of those things, they always lead me back to the Lord, the very Author of them. They take the focus off of me (and my wants, needs and desires) and put it back on God, right where it belongs.

“Lord, help us to guard our prayers with thanksgiving. Help us continue to pray when we would give up hope, knowing as we turn our concerns over to You, and thank You for the many things You have already blessed us with, You will give us peace that passes all understanding. Amen.”