Outward Focus

Audio from Senior Pastor Vaughn Drawdy on Sunday morning February 19, 2017.

Colossians 4:2-4 (NIV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER
Devoted: To be constantly diligent.
Diligent: Working hard to accomplish a task.
Prayer: Our amazing ability to speak to God and to express to Him our gratitude, our expressions of love and about the cares and challenges of our lives and the lives of others. Prayer and worship go hand in hand.
Hebrews 4:14-16
1 Peter 3:12

If you want to live powerfully in your effectiveness to share the love of God, a life devoted to prayer is absolutely essential.
Ephesians 6:18

BE WATCHFUL
This word watchful is the same word that describes a guard, standing on a wall - alert, looking for the enemy.

BE AWAKE AND ALERT
What do we see as we walk through our day. Do we see people who need help? Do we see people who need encouragement, hope, comfort and love?

Prayer keeps us focused outward…it reveals our dependence upon God and His grace.

BE THANKFUL
When we remember and truly embrace what Christ did for us through His amazing love, thankfulness is naturally expressed.

Here is a big challenge for us: We tend to spend a lot of effort and time talking about the problems of others, to others, and not to God.

ASK GOD
Ask God to fill you with His Spirit in all wisdom.
Ask Him to help you understand who He is and how He could use you throughout your day.
Ask God to give you a greater care and love for those who are hurting.
Ask God to use you to share His love and hope.
Ask God to open doors of opportunity to share the gospel clearly.