I recently attended the Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy conference. It was a wonderful experience with over 600 women clergy who deeply love Jesus and are obedient to answer His call to ministry. Before boarding a plane, I pray for a divine appointment to have a conversation with my seatmate. Sometimes, the person immediately puts in their headphones and stays in their own little world. This time, I had the privilege of talking with a young man traveling to a Pokémon card competition. It was fascinating to hear about his life, career, relationships, Pokémon hobby, and his experience with faith. I asked many questions, and he responded in kind. I didn’t lead him to Jesus, but I did plant some seeds about having a relationship with God. I will be praying that he remains open to the work of the Spirit in his life.

There is power in prayer, but sometimes it gets pushed aside to the backseat. Prayer is just as vital as breathing. When we pray, the Holy Spirit uses us to demonstrate Christ’s love to others.

We are part of God’s family. Christ is supreme; we are spiritually complete. Therefore, we are called and empowered to help others find and follow Jesus. God has chosen to include us in His mission of making disciples who make disciples. We’re in this together. God AND us together.

Our role is to pray for God to help us do His work.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:2-6).

This passage explains how we should pray, what we should pray for, and how we should behave after praying.

How We Should Pray
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2).

Devoted. Some translations say, “Be faithful to prayer.” Stay steady; don’t give up. Be sincere and purposeful. “Devote” is a strong word, meaning to focus constantly on a person or thing.

Watchful. We must stay awake and alert as we pray. “Watch and pray!” is a phrase often found in the Bible. Its first use was by Nehemiah when he led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and gates.

Keep your spiritual antennae tuned to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide your prayers. Pray the words that the Holy Spirit provides you.

Thankful. This is a vital part of effective prayer. Giving thanks boosts our energy and faith. Paul was under house arrest, yet he remained thankful. I have a wall hanging that says, “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” It’s a good reminder for me, as I tend to focus on things that aren’t going right. We need to stay alert for God’s goodness. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus“ (1 Thess. 5:18).

Devoted, watchful, and thankful.

What We Should Pray
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should (Colossians 4:3-4).

Notice how purposeful this prayer is.

That God may open a door for our message. That we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. That I may proclaim it clearly as I should.

Too often, our prayers are vague and general. “Lord, bless the missionaries.” Pray for specific needs. That way, you will recognize when God answers and be able to praise Him for it. You can always pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. God’s kingdom is about building His family by adopting more kids. He wants people to discover how to be in a relationship with Him through Jesus. As we spend time in God’s Word and with the Lord, we understand His will and can confidently ask Him to do what He has planned. God’s will is always about people finding and following Jesus.

How We Should Act After We Pray
We’ve prayed and spent time with the Lord. We have asked, sought, and knocked in agreement with God’s will. Now what? It’s time to act.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:5-6).

We must walk in wisdom in our actions when we are with those who do not yet follow Jesus. The Christian life is not only lived in the prayer closet; there must also be practical, lived-out Christianity in the world. God values both our personal prayer life and how we conduct ourselves in public, and He wants us to care about both as well.

We must be careful not to do or say anything that could hinder sharing the Gospel. This means staying alert to the opportunities God provides for sharing our personal stories of Jesus. It includes doing our work with excellence and a positive attitude, paying our bills, and keeping our promises. We live with integrity and maintain a good reputation in our neighborhood and circles of influence. Your lifestyle can either open the door to sharing the Gospel or close it.

Christians are sometimes perceived as difficult customers, especially in restaurants. Reports and personal experiences support this view. In addition to being impatient and demanding, they tend to leave poor tips. A recent trend is not leaving a tip at all. Instead, some customers leave a tract on the table that appears to be a folded $100 bill. It’s disappointing for waitstaff to get excited about a $100 tip only to unfold it and find a message about how to get to heaven. Such behavior reflects poorly on Christians, who are expected to be generous and loving.

Live your life wisely and seize the opportunities that come your way. Each new day is a gift from God and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Stay alert for divine appointments. Share God’s love with others. “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Galatians 6:10).

A follower of Jesus must ensure that their actions and words are in harmony. Nothing can silence the lips like a careless life. When character, conduct, and conversation align, they create a powerful witness. As recipients of God’s grace, we are uniquely gifted to share grace with others.

When we follow Jesus, we receive wholeness—the fullness of God. Our role is to pray for God to empower us to do His work. Now, what will you do?