Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. – (Colossians 4:2, NLT)
Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving. – (Colossians 4:2, CEB)
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. – (Colossians 4:2, MSG)
Prayer is our petition and praise presented to our Provider. We are called to be in constant communication with our Creator. God designed us with relationship in mind. Like any relationship, if there is not ongoing communication of some sort, a divide of distance, time and disconnect begins to grow. Being devoted to prayer is an ongoing commitment to communicate with Christ. As we choose to be intentional to pray, we become more aware of reasons to give thanks and come to value our ability to speak to the living God whenever and however we wish. He is good and He hears our every prayer. Each word whispered in the hollows of our heart to those which we cry out aloud. May we keep on praying, ever aware of the One to whom we pray, with our hearts overflowing with praise.
Help us keep praying,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤
Guard our heart and mind;
May we ever seek,
For in You, we find.
Reason to give praise,
For Your faithfulness;
The more we know You,
More we know we’re blessed.
Blessed with Your courage,
Presence as You stay;
Wisdom to choose well,
And walk in Your way.
Faithful forever,
Unending, Your grace;
Peace ever present,
Throughout all our days.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to pray, and to protect our prayer with praise. Thank You that there is always reason to give You praise, even on our darkest days. Forgive us for our lack of communication with You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would bring all things before You first, being mindful that You are God and we are not. Show us how to love those around us in a way that demonstrates our gratitude that springs forth from our constant communication with You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pray and give You praise, protecting the power that we find in Your presence as we are faithful to be in an ongoing, invested relationship with You. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6