Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Parallel translations
- KJV Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
- BSB Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- NKJV Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
- NASB Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
- NLT Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Believers are to persist in prayer, staying alert and thankful as they pray. It matters because steadfast, watchful, grateful prayer is essential to the Christian life.
Overview
Paul opens his closing exhortations with a call to devoted, persevering prayer. 'Watching' implies spiritual alertness, perhaps echoing Jesus' charge to watch and pray, while thanksgiving keeps prayer rooted in gratitude rather than mere petition. This pattern of constant, watchful, thankful prayer marks a heart depending on God through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- 1 Th 5:17–18Pray without ceasing.
- Phil 4:6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
- Eph 6:18with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
- Rom 12:12rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;
- Matt 26:41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Luke 18:1He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
- Luke 21:36Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
- 1 Pet 4:7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
- Ps 55:16–17As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.
- Ps 109:4In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
- Col 1:9For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Mark 13:33Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.
- Col 2:7rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
- Col 3:17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
- 1 Sam 12:23Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
- Col 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
- Col 3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
- Job 27:8–10For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
- Job 15:4Yes, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.
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Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.