Session 22

How to stay connected to your Father’s heart

From Colossians: A 28-Day Devotional

Have you ever forgotten your place? Spoken a little too directly to your boss or parent?

We’ve all been there. We can get caught up in what we think is important, and forget that we aren’t actually in charge. It happens at work, at home, and in our spiritual lives.

Paul starts Colossians 4 by reminding the church who’s the boss. And it’s not us. "... you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven" (Colossians 4:1, MSG).

Our heavenly Father is sovereign over all of creation, including us. Prayer is how we align our hearts with our Father’s heart. It’s how we remember our place in this big, beautiful, broken world. This is why Paul encourages the Colossians to pray diligently and with gratitude.

If we’re consistently praying, we’ll be continuously seeking and hearing from God. And if we’re keeping our eyes open for reasons to be thankful, we’ll be more likely to see God moving because we’re alert and looking for Him in action.

Also, notice what Paul asks for prayer for. He’s in prison, but he’s not asking for relief. He’s asking for boldness and opportunities to share the Gospel.

"God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them" (Colossians 4:3-4, MSG). When you can see your chains as your mission field, you know you’re following your Father’s will and not your own.

The only way to get prayer wrong is not to pray. God loves us, and He wants to hear all of our desires and dreams. But God also knows more and sees more than we will ever comprehend. Learning to see Him as our loving parent, our just and fair master, will not only shape how we pray but also what we pray for.

Reflect:

• What’s one way you’ve seen prayer align your thoughts and desires with God’s?
• Think about the last few things you prayed for. How might your prayers change if you started every conversation thanking God before telling Him what you need?