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

Prayer is important. The Bible talks about how valuable prayer is very, very often. Hundreds of times. Over 600 prayers are transcribed in the Bible and 25 of them were prayed by Jesus. Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer. It seems He was always going off to pray during His time on earth. Clearly, prayer is essential to being a follower of Jesus.

So why is it so hard for me to pray?

It’s so easy to mumble a few words or praise or thanks, to think a few thoughts about God, to ask for some help for myself or for a friend, and call that prayer. Done. I can check it off my list.

But that’s not how Jesus prayed. And it’s not how today’s verse talks about prayer either. I’m supposed to “devote myself” to prayer and “stay alert in it”. Jesus stayed up all night praying when His day was too busy healing people. He prayed all the time. One time, Jesus efficiently drove out an evil spirit that His disciples were unable to banish. When they asked Him why they failed, He answered, “This kind can only come out with prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29) Jesus was praying all the time. He was devoted to prayer and alert in it.

I have a feeling that when I get to heaven, I will finally understand why prayer was so important here on earth. Prayer is powerful even though it seems so… nothing. Nothing looks different, the earth doesn’t quake, lightning doesn’t strike. And I often don’t ever see signs that God heard me or answered.

Imagine a button on a wall that says, “Press here!” The button is big and red and looks important with its own spotlight and blinking neon arrows pointing to it. I press the button and nothing seems to happen. I press it again. The neon arrows just keep blinking. No change.

But in another room, every time I push the button, a sandwich slides down a ramp to a hungry person waiting in a long line. The line is very long. Sometimes the wait between button pushes is agonizingly long. Each time I push the button a cheer goes up, a person is fed, and the line moves forward.

But in my room… nothing.

Prayer is important. The Bible tells me so in no uncertain terms — with blinking neon lights. Jesus modeled devotion to prayer for me. Jesus wants those hungry people to be fed without delay.

I may never know the good that comes from my prayers exactly, but to be obedient, I just have to push that button.

Dear God,

Thank you for allowing me to speak to you, my all-powerful God and Creator of the universe, directly any time I want. What an honor and a blessing! I’m so sorry I throw away your gift and discount it so often, even when you tell me over and over how valuable it is. Please teach me how to devote myself to prayer. I want to do better.