Understanding The Gift

​Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” ~HCSB

When I was growing up, there were three timetables in which I received gifts after asking my parents. One type of gift would come right away. Another, I had to work for and the third was a gift I could only receive when I was ready and able to maintain such a gift.

The first gift would be right away. For example, I would ask my mother to cook my favorite dinner, she would make it that night. Or if I wanted to go to a school dance or movie, providing I was being obedient in doing my homework and housework, I could go. These were gifts that came right away.

Then there where gifts I had to work for. When I got older and asked for money all the time, my mother laid down some chores for me to do. Washing dishes, taking out trash, and keeping my room clean were some of the few things I had to do. When I did this, I would receive a reward in the monetary fashion at the end of the week.  The gift of ‘work ethic’ was also given to me at this time although I didn’t realize it.

Then there was a gift that could not be given to me until I was ready.  A great example of that would be my first car. Yes, I wanted one at the beginning of high school, but I was not ready then. I took a defensive driving course. I was trained in driving while with a skilled driver in the car with me. Had to learn how to change a tire and change the oil. Until one day, my grandfather surprised me with my first car the day I graduated from High School.  Not only a gift worth waiting for, but I was mentally and physically able to maintain such a gift.

We must become aware of how our prayers work in the same way. There are some prayers that may be answered right away. Some prayers God has given you instructions on what to do and how to receive the gift of answer, or gift of relief or gift of healing but you must follow the instructions in obedience before the gift is given to you.

But then there is the hardest gift, the gift you must wait on. In these prayers we pray, we must pray in thanksgiving because in order to receive this answered gift, God has to do a great work in us before we are able to attain it. You see we pray for it when we may be too weak to handle it. Strong in flesh to do the wrong thing with it, and weak in the spirit to do the right thing with it.

God wants to bless us with all we ask for in His Son’s name, but He will only give it to us when we are ready.  Stay persistent in your prayer. As the text says, “…Devote yourselves to prayer…” When you pray daily, God will allow actions around you to guide you. You will only see them if you are in God’s Word heeding His direction.

“…stay alert in it with thanksgiving…”  Always remember what God has done for you in the past. This will allow us to stand in the knowledge of what He is doing for us now. And in time we will always thank Him for what He is, “…about to do…” for us in the future. 

I have learned to realize that the gifts from God I had to wait on, were the gifts that keep on giving. They are the gifts that continue to make me strong in spirit and allow me to control the flesh to do the will of the Father. May the Lord bless and keep you safe, healed and directed in His Son Jesus’ name,

Amen

Blessings,
​Billy

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