I am so excited to jump into another series where we are looking at one single, powerful verse in Colossians 4 to see how we can bring it into our prayer time. This week, we’re tackling that first half.
Have you ever seen a security guard asleep on the job? It’s a classic movie trope—the guy has his feet up on the desk, a hat pulled over his eyes, and a half-eaten donut nearby while the thief just tiptoes right past him. We laugh because it’s ridiculous, but honestly, if that was your house or your business, you wouldn’t be laughing. You’d be frustrated!
But here’s the reality: many of us, if we’re being honest, it’s hard to always be alert. It’s some serious work to actually look at what’s happening in the world or in our families through the lens of the Spirit. Paying attention to everything that is happening around us is exhausting, caring for hurting people is hard work.
Paul tells us in Colossians 4:2 this: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." The Greek word Paul uses is gregoreuo. It literally means to stay awake or be a sentry. It’s a military term! It means you are on the lookout. You’re not just talking to God; you’re standing on the watchtower, looking for where the enemy is trying to sneak in and where God is trying to break out.
This isn’t a new concept. In Exodus 17, the Israelites are in a massive battle against the Amalekites. Joshua is down in the valley doing the fighting, but Moses is up on the hill with the staff of God held high. It says this in Exodus 17:11-12: As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
It’s the ultimate picture of prayer. As long as Moses stayed "watchful" and kept his hands up, the Israelites won. But the moment his physical and spiritual energy dipped—the moment he let his guard down—the enemy started winning. Prayer warriors, your prayers are the "hands up" on the hill. When you stay watchful, you change the momentum of the battle for your kids, your marriage, and your church.
On the hardest night of Jesus’ life, Jesus asked His inner circle to do just one thing: "Watch and pray." But the disciples fell asleep. They missed the moment. But Jesus stayed awake. While the world slept, Jesus was wide awake, wrestling in prayer for your soul and mine. He watched for us when we couldn't watch for ourselves. And because He was watchful all the way to the cross, He won the final victory. Now, He’s given us His Spirit so we don't have to pray out of our own tired willpower. We can pray with His "wide-awake" authority!
So, as we head into our prayer time today, let’s wake up. Let’s shake off the spiritual "sleepy eyes" and get to work.
Self-Reflection: Ask the Holy Spirit, "Lord, where have I fallen asleep?" Is there an area of your life—maybe your holiness, your attitude, or a specific relationship—where you’ve stopped being vigilant? Give that area back to Him and ask Him to wake your heart up.
Praying for Others: Let's be the "Aarons and Hurs" for the people in our lives. Think of one person who is in the "valley" of a battle right now. Pray that they would stay alert, and tell God, "I’m standing on the watchtower for them today." Let’s pray that our families and our nation would wake up to the goodness and the truth of Jesus.
Let’s go to war with our eyes wide open, knowing our God is already moving!