Be SOBER, WATCH and PRAY!

Many people wonder about different aspects of prayer and wish they could grow more disciplined in their prayer life. I know for a fact that I need to be more disciplined about it. Prayer is communication with God and brings us greater intimacy with Him. We cannot be nonchalant about it because there is dynamic power in prayer. We have to be assertive and proactive.

We are urged to be sober, to watch UNTO prayer, to continue in prayer, and to watch IN prayer with thanksgiving. The following scriptures are very specific and speak to the entire person. It is remarkable when we analyse the Greek text that the scripture is urging us to be sober in mind, in spirit and in body.

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
1 Peter 4:7 (KJV)

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”
Colossians 4:2 (KJV)

Let's first discuss the words UNTO and IN. In the Greek the usage of UNTO denotes going into something that has a hollow or open space relating to either place or time. It is saying we should watch and while watching, enter into prayer like you would enter into that open space. The usage of IN denotes a fixed position inside either a place or time. It is saying we should be inside prayer as if we are inside in the interior of something and we should be watching while we are in it.

In the Greek text of 1 Peter, ‘sober’ and ‘watch’ derive from different words, have different applications, but have similar meaning. The Greek word translated ‘sober’ applies to the mind in this scripture while the word translated ‘watch’ applies to the spirit. They both refer to being sound or sober. These scriptures therefore command us to be of sound mind and to be calm, collected and circumspect in spirit.

In the Greek text of Colossians, the word ‘watch’ has a different origin as well as a different application but similar meaning. It applies to the body and refers to watching in the sense of being awake and not sleeping. It has the connotation of being cautious and of giving strict attention to something. In this instance we are commanded to be cautious, to give strict attention specifically to prayer with thanksgiving, and to continue on the inside of prayer.

Now think about what all this is saying:
Be mentally and spiritually sound or sober as well as physically cautious and alert. Go into prayer as if you are inside a bubble and stay focused in prayer while you are inside. Continue to do this with thankfulness to God because the end of all things is approaching.

What a precious portrayal of sober and watchful prayer!

God Bless You!