Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.  Colossians 4:2, TLV

4 Steps of Devotion.   Here we go with context. In the previous chapter, especially the final verses, Paul gives life instructions to various people. Wives, husbands, children, fathers, and slaves/workers. Then in the next chapter the instructions are directed towards slave masters—for us employers and supervisors.

The message is essentially the same for all of them, and for us.

  1   Live a life of integrity.

  2   Follow the essence of the Torah — love God, love each other.

  3   Then, devote ourselves to prayer.

  4   Keeping alert in gratitude and thanksgiving.

By maintaining an attitude of gratitude, it is easier to accomplish the rest. Because thankfulness fuels integrity, love, true obedience, and prayer. Thankfulness grounds in the reality that had the Creator of the Universe not loved us so much that He sent His only Son to redeem us and make us His Children, we would be lost.

It certainly makes for a better living environment — no matter who we are. Don’t you think?