City Life Starter

I. The Word: Colossians 4:2-4 

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the

 

same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak

 

forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the

 

way I ought to speak.
 

 

 

 

II. Reflection Questions:

 

1. What disciplines do you implement to focus your prayer towards God and not on your circumstances?

 

2. How do you generally start when you pray?

 

3. Why is it important to “keep alert in it, with an attitude of thanksgiving?”

 

 

 

God is worthy of adoration; He is worthy of the most elegant and boastful speech. There is something very moving and stirring when we confess the Glory of God out loud before we even bring our petitions before Him in prayer.

 

I have learned in my walk with God that any and every time I pray, I must start by boasting of what the Lord has done and confessing who He is. I have to do this because I will naturally lean my prayers toward my anxiety and circumstance. If I am being totally honest, in many cases I have to keep praising God until my soul recognizes the truth, as if my soul has to play catch-up with my words. This is my way of “keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

 

There are countless Psalms that follow the same rhythm. It is a rhythm beginning with extreme declarations of the character of God, followed by crying out to that same God that was professed to be completely able.

 

I am an admirer of dramatic speech, lofty words, and creative encouragement. In prayer is when radical declarations become appropriate even mandatory. Why not spill out every bit of honor we can muster? Doesn’t God exceed and surpass the praise that is already due to Him?

 

 

 Prayer

 

I will extol You, my God, O King,

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,

And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,

And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious [a]splendor of Your majesty

And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

6 Men shall speak of the [b]power of Your awesome acts,

And I will tell of Your greatness.

7 They shall [c]eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness

And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

Psalm 145:1-7

 

God, be lifted high in my prayers; let me never go a day without blessing Your Name. Jesus, You are truly all I need. Keep my eyes ever fixed on You and only You. Lord, when I am weary and troubled “incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to dishonest gain,” (Psalm 119:36). Discipline me to speak Your goodness in the mundane and easy times, so then all the more will I be conditioned to praise You in the darkest hours of my life.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.