How Beyonce Got Involved

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. - Colossians 4:2

This verse and the verses that follow are resting on a 3x5 card in my kitchen window seal.

A passage I want to commit to memory.

But, as I have been meditating on this verse, the words being watchful keep stopping me.

Being watchful for what? Exactly what is Paul trying to communicate? There must be something more.

Oh yes.

Watchful (grēgoreō) Keeping alert in; give strict attention to; be cautious; active; to employ the most punctilious care in a thing.

O.K. I am seriously hearing Beyonce singing this definition.



Punctilious?! I had NO idea that was even a word.

BTW - I am pronouncing as if it rhymes with delicious.

I know that isn't right, but.

It's definition reads as this: Punctilious - marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions.

Can't you hear the jingle!?

To the beat of Beyonce's song Bootylicious...

My prayer is too punctilious for ya, babe. I don't think you're ready for this "med-i" (ahem, short for meditation)... I don't think you're ready for this "med-i"... I don't think you're ready for this... You see my prayer is too punctilious for ya, babe."

{Am I up way too early this morning or what?}

But the antonyms of punctilious are sadly what define my prayer life best: casual, informal, easy going, laid back, unceremonious.

I wish I could honestly sit behind this screen and type, "Oh yes, I give strict attention to my prayer life. I am always prayerfully alert and active. Extremely punctilious"

But I can't.

But I can say, "Yes, most days my prayer life is very casual and informal. Extremely unceremonious and easy going. A bit inactive."

Paul is not suggesting we be religious in our prayer life. He is not saying, "Hey Christian, live again under the yoke of the law."

He is saying, "BE WATCHFUL! FOR A SLOTHFUL PRAYER LIFE IS EASY TO FALL INTO."

{Hand raised} Amen, Paul.

Let us today, be active in our prayer lives. Let us be punctilious, baby.

I must mark out time to pray. I do pray often, talking to Jesus throughout my day, sure. But I want to, I need to, set apart special time, for just the two of us.

Some days may be long. Some days more brief.

But, as the Word instructs, I must devote myself to prayer. And be watchful.

Be blessed today.

And I do apologize if you sing Beyonce all day.