Dear Rose Park,
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2
Sound burdensome? Sound too strong? Sound like too much commitment? I realize schedules are busy and work needs to get done, children need tending to, bills need paying, and homes need cleaning and I would imagine some of you are even thinking, how can I devote myself to prayer when so many other things are demanding my time and energy? This is a valid question; however, it is not a valid excuse.
Perhaps the struggle is not in your schedule but rather in your definition of prayer. I can understand how it might be very difficult to find time to pray when your definition of prayer is to sit in silence for one hour without distractions; I can also understand how it might be very difficult to devote yourself to prayer when your definition of prayer is to read and re-read through a Psalm until a question is answered or an epiphany occurs. However, I don’t think Paul’s letter to the Colossians is encouraging us to sit in silence for an hour without distractions or search for an answer. Though solitude and silence are fruitful spiritual disciplines, perhaps our devotion to prayer can occur through an uninterrupted awareness to God. If we can change our outlook on prayer from an activity to an awareness I believe we can more faithfully devote ourselves to prayer.
So, the next time you’re in line at the grocery store, be aware to God’s faithful presence. The next time you’re driving your children back and forth between practices and rehearsals, be aware to God’s relentless grace. And the next time you’re chatting with a friend on the phone, be aware to God’s unconditional love.
One way we can grow our awareness to God is by praying together. Throughout this season of Lent, we’ll be highlighting and embodying this practice during Sunday worship. We’ll intentionally unite our voices around common liturgical and biblical phrases to audibly remind each other of our communal effort in prayer. By praying with each other and for each other we believe we take one step towards what the Apostle Paul refers to as a devotion to prayer.
However, regardless of your physical or virtual attendance in worship, will you pray with us? Will you become more aware of God’s presence in your life and around the world? Will you offer thanksgiving for God’s presence as you go about your daily activities? If we can, perhaps our lives might become a greater reflection of the love that the Son shines on us.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark