If You Do Only One Thing...

Philippians 4:2
So we could take a step in the right direction and resolve to:
Spend more time with family, Exercise more, Read more, Eat healthier,
Continue our education, Do more for the community, Find a cause to defend,
Take up a new hobby, Enjoy the outdoors more, Travel to places we’ve
never been, Tell someone we love them,
There are many, many good things we could do with the remaining time we
have in life. But if we were to narrow it all down – if we were to do only one
thing, and concentrate on it for the rest of our lives – what should that one
thing be?

And when it’s all said and done, wouldn’t you like to have the peace and
sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you chose the right thing?

And what would you think if I were to tell you that by doing just one certain
thing all the other important things in life would naturally start to fall in line?

What is this one thing? The answer is found in the Bible. Colossians 4:2.

C. “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;.”

(Colossians 4:2)

D. We should make prayer our main priority in the new year.

I. “DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER”

A. The word “devote” is also translated as “to adhere to, to persist in, or to
busy one’s self with.”

When I learned that “devote” means “busy yourself,” I asked myself a series
of questions to see if this was true of me. To see if I was really devoted to
prayer.

But, I’m certain that some of you, like me, would have to say, “No, I haven’t
really devoted myself to prayer in the sense that I could say I have busied
myself by talking to God.”

If no, you haven’t been devoted to prayer, why after all these years should
you change?

If you are currently not devoted to prayer, why should you be? Well, I
looked through many passages in the Bible in search of an answer to why
people should be devoted to prayer or why people should busy themselves
with prayer. And here’s what I found…

II. WHY BE DEVOTED TO PRAYER?

7 reasons

1 - Because it’s our duty as Christians

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;.”

(Romans 12:12)

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

So reason #1 to be devoted to prayer is because God says so. It’s our duty.
It’s expected of us as Christians.

2 - Because we are promised that God hears

This isn’t some pointless activity. We are promised that when we talk to
God, he actually listens.

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all
their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)

A pretty good reason to be devoted to prayer.

3 - Because we need to hear from God

Not only does God hear us – we need to hear from Him.

“For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.” (Psalm
38:15)

Sometimes we might forget that prayer is 2-way communication. It’s as

much about listening as it is about talking. God promises to answer our
prayers. Life would be pretty lonely if we didn’t have the reassurance that
we could hear from God in response to prayer. We need to hear from Him.
Prayer is a channel to hear.

Devote yourselves to prayer - Being watchful and thankful. Pray – watch for
answers – thank God when the answers appear.
4 - Because we need strength in temptation

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able
to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

A great reason to be devoted to prayer is to learn that way out. Remember,

we hear from God in response to prayer. If we ask, He’ll show us how to
steer clear from giving in to sin.

If you’re in a non-residential building that catches fire, you need to find a

way out. Fortunately for you there are lighted exit signs clearly pointing the
way to safety.
Once you see the sign, you have a choice. Take the way out, or stay inside
and take your chances.

5.Because we need to overcome our own wills

The night before Jesus was put to death he prayed in the Garden of
Gethsemane, he said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from
me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” But in the end he still
wanted God’s will to be done.

“nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)

And how did he ensure that God’s will would be done? By praying. Taking
every decision to God in prayer greatly increases the likelihood of God’s
ways triumphing instead of our own wills. I don’t know about you, but my
will is quite often (most often) not God’s will. That’s yet another reason why
I pray, so that his will gets done instead of mine.

Jesus probably didn’t want to go to the cross, humanly speaking. And

humanly speaking, I don’t always naturally want to do the things that are
truly God’s will. It’s not natural for me to turn the other cheek, to love my
enemies, to pray for my persecutors.

It’s not natural for me to go the second mile, to make sure the sun doesn’t
go down on my anger, to love my neighbor as myself. And so I pray –
looking forward to the day when my life is shaped more by His will instead of
mine.
6 - Because we need help for what lies ahead

Not a one of us can predict the future, but we can often see what lies just up
ahead. Perhaps a surgery, a job change, a worrisome confrontation with
another individual. Maybe a move is in store, a decision needs to be made
regarding finances, or a big choice is facing your family. The Psalmist says…

“Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and
teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the
day. …” (Psalm 25:4-5)

A great reason to be devoted to prayer. When we pray, God’s direction

becomes clear.

7 - Because unbroken communion with God is possible

So if you want life to be different. If you want to have the peace and sense
of satisfaction that comes from doing one thing and knowing you chose the
right thing. If you want to know the joy that comes from doing something
you may have been omitting and seeing the hopes and dreams for your
spiritual life and communion with God become a reality – THEN DO THIS
ONE THING… DEVOTE YOURSELF