Keep watch

"Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s answers, and remember to be thankful when they come."  Col. 4:2

This verse has been on my heart today for lots of reasons, I think.

#1 - I think I am growing weary of praying the same prayers for the same jobs, the same provision, the same relationships, the same illnesses, the same worries ... I am NOT growing weary of the people behind those needs, not. at. all.  It is a joy to pray for them.  I am growing weary of the struggle I know they (and I) live in.  I'm growing weary of the waiting.  I know they are, too.  Just this morning, I was praying for two who need jobs... and one has an interview tomorrow.  I'll be honest, I've prayed so many days for his job, without seeing God work that I wondered for a moment, does it even matter if I ask for him to get this one???

I know.  I kind of feel bad even typing that.  And I guess it goes back to the whole idea of His ways are not ours.  No.  I do not want either of them to get a job just to have one when the best job ever was just a week for opening.  And, no, I do not have God's perspective, but man, it's so hard from our limited piece of the puzzle to not think God is just uninterested, uninvolved, or just doesn't care that much.  I KNOW this is not true.  Not one bit.  But sometimes I am weary in my praying for the same needs day after day when seemingly, nothing is changing.

#2 - So, I keep at it.  If there's anything I know about praying, it's that there is value in persistence, both for the needs ... and for us.  So, I won't quit, even when I'm discouraged.  Even when I feel like there's nothing else I can say to encourage those whom I am praying for.

#3 - Watch.  I remember Mark Batterson once talking about how prayer makes us good observers.  I guess it's that whole on your mind kind of thing. I remember when I was car shopping a couple of years ago, I saw the cars I was looking at EVERYWHERE.  When we pray, I think we are more likely to see GOD everywhere.  If my persistent praying does not necessarily move God's hand, it at least opens my eyes.  So, I pray ... and I watch to see what He does.  Often it's not what I expected ... often so much more.

#4 - Be thankful.  My thankful list has changed my perspective.  There are some days when figuring out what I am thankful for that day is a chore.  Pretty sure, even this morning, I was struggling to think of unique gifts to list for today.  But, pausing to consider His gifts changes me from focusing on what I don't have to focusing on what I do.

When I think about being watchful in prayer, I consider Jesus's time in the Garden before His arrest. He knew what was coming ... which is much more than we usually do.  But, He still needed time alone with the Father ... alone but with others lifting Him up and watching with him in prayer.  I think this is one of the reasons why we need to be persistent in prayer ... because others need us to stand watch with them.  To remind them that they are not alone.  To strengthen them with our prayers and encouragement, to check on them ... sometimes we need to actually step in and be the answer to a prayer we are praying.

This week, I'm going to keep praying ... remembering how much can change in three days ... and keeping my eyes open to see God at work around  us and in us.