2 Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray for us also. Pray that God would open a door for the word so we can preach the secret plan[a] of Christ—which is why I’m in chains. 4 Pray that I might be able to make it as clear as I ought to when I preach. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person.
Today’s reflection is written by one of our high school summer interns – Abby Clark.
Reflection
In this passage, Paul reminds us of many essential practices for a life of faith. They might sound simple or like a no brainer—but often, it’s the most important things we tend to overlook when life gets busy or distracting.
Paul opens with the idea to “keep on praying.” Not once, not when things get hard, not just at meals—but constantly. Prayer is the most essential thing of a close relationship with God. It strengthens us, and keeps us aligned with God’s will. Still, in the rush of daily life, prayer can be the first thing to go. Paul reminds us not only to pray, but to guard our prayers with thanksgiving – to be grateful for everything that has and will come.
Paul, while imprisoned, doesn’t ask to be saved. Instead, he asks the church to pray for his mission—that he could make the gospel clear. This challenges us to lift up others in our prayers—not just their needs, but their callings. When was the last time you prayed for someone else’s health, job, or safety?
We’re also reminded to “act wisely toward outsiders.” Our daily decisions—how we treat people, how we spend our time, how we react— this is all noticed. Every day brings opportunities to show God’s love in small, quiet ways. Are we making the most of those moments? Or are we letting them pass?
Words are powerful. Paul tells us to make our speech “gracious and sprinkled with insight.” Not just kind, but thoughtful. Not just polite, but purposeful. We don’t always know what someone’s going through, but a well-chosen word can lift, encourage, or even lead someone closer to Christ.
These instructions—pray, support others, act wisely, speak graciously—might seem like things that should come naturally. But in reality, distractions can pull our attention in every direction. That’s why Paul reminds us. To bring us back to what matters most.
by Abby Clark
For Pondering and Prayer
Holy God, teach us to be faithful in prayer—thankful, watchful—not just when life is hard, but every day. Help us walk in wisdom and speak with grace, so our lives reflect Christ in all we do. Let us be a light in dark places and a reminder of Your love wherever we go. Amen.
