8 PRAY WITH VIGILANCE.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

     -Colossians 4:2

The vigilant keep watch. Become a watchman on the tower with your prayers. God said to Ezekiel, “I have made you a watchman” (Ezek. 3:17).

Watch for the enemy. As the watchman stands guard on the wall, he spies the enemy coming from afar. Sounding the alarm, the watchman alerts the city to a coming attack. Remember to pray for the Lord to guard the city or you will watch vainly in prayer (Ps. 127:1). Be watchful in prayer lest the devil seek you out and devour you (1 Peter 5:8).

Watch for the coming of the Lord. The watchman sees the sword of the Lord approaching (Ezek. 33). He proclaims the coming of the Day of the Lord. Ever vigilant and ready, the watchman in prayer knows the voice of the Lord and the sound of His approach.

Vigilant prayer prophesies.

Vigilant prayer is the prayer of the seer. “For thus has the Lord said to me: ‘Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees’ ” (Isa. 21:6).

Vigilant prayer births that which is seen prophetically. Elijah assumed a position of birthing and saw by the prayer of faith the rain that was coming.

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!”

     —1 Kings 18:42–44

Vigilant prayer never gives up, never quits, and never abandons the post. As long as the watch requires, the watchman alertly prays. Slumber tempts but cannot prevail. Fatigue weakens but cannot overcome. Impatience threatens but cannot erode the patient assurance and confident hope that steels the watchman in vigilant prayer.

Almighty God,

Keep me awake in prayer. Let sleeplessness be my spiritual state. As I pray, permit me to see the coming attacks, that I may alert my household, and prepare to stand firm. As I watch with vigilance, reveal to me when your coming rain, that I might prophesy your refreshing. Amen.