The Devoted

This morning I was led to read Colossians 4 and in the 2nd verse it talks about prayer, again:

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."

I looked up the word Devote, just so I was very clear on what that meant, and here's what I found out:

Devote: to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc to devote ones time to..

So, in Colossians, I am learning again to be devoted to prayer, which means to concentrate, occupy myself with, devote my time to prayer. Purpose my life with prayer.  While I am praying, my attitude needs to remain alert with an attitude of thanksgiving.
I think that sometimes it is challenging to be alert with an attitude of thanksgiving when it feels like my circumstances are crumbling around me. I need the strength of Jesus to hold me up, and enable me to be  alert and to be strong. I cannot do it without Him. I am weak. I am tired. I need His grace and mercy to cover me.
Lord have mercy on me today as I devote myself to You in prayer. Pursue me with Your passion, reveal Your truth to me. Say That Again to me, Jesus, and I will pray.