How many times have you been asked, “What do you do for a living?” It’s one of those easy questions to ask when people first meet. You can learn a lot about someone by their answers. They may mention their employer, their title, their industry, or, if retired, what they used to do. People often share things they are skilled at. It’s not unusual for someone to quickly point out a noteworthy accomplishment or interesting fact about their past.

We place a lot of emphasis on our careers in Western culture. It forms much of our identity. While everyone has different motivations, I think we all want to do something that is significant, something meaningful, something that matters. Our society tends to recognize, reward, and elevate people based on what they do.

Yet in Colossians, Paul ends his letter by saying, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

I find it significant that Paul doesn’t tell the Colossian believers to go out and do things. Instead he tells them to devote themselves to prayer. I’m guessing that for many of us, we actually would prefer that God give us some tangible action we could complete or a list of tasks to do. We want to feel like we accomplished something.

But God wants us to devote ourselves to prayer. Oswald Chambers wrote, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.”

As we engage with our missionaries and ministry partners around the world, we are constantly reminded of our dependence on God to do things. We can’t end the war in Ukraine or the civil conflicts in Cameroon. We can’t stop the violence and insecurity that is taking place in Ecuador and many other countries, but we can pray that God would bring peace. We can’t end the persecution of believers and the threats or risks that many of our partners face. But we can pray that God will protect them and give them His strength and grace through everything they face.

We all have family, friends, or people around us who are dealing with serious health issues. God wants us to care for them and give them comfort in their time of need. We can’t heal them. God can! That’s why He asks us to pray.

Being devoted to prayer is not something the world values, but it is what God desires from us. God wants us to pray without ceasing—walking closely with Him, listening to His voice, seeing the world through His eyes, and reflecting His heart as we show His love to people around us.

Thank you for praying for our missionaries, ministries and partners. Don’t stop! God is working through your prayers! We are so grateful for your partnership to share the Good News of Jesus and bring hope to communities worldwide!

May God encourage you as you prayerfully walk with Him today.