Devoted vs. Devotion

Consider the following passages:

Acts 2:42 And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.

Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

Rom 12:12 ... rejoicing in hope, enduring in affliction, being devoted to prayer,

1 Cor 7:5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then you should be together again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack… 

Col 4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving...

Five passages talking about being devoted to prayer. In Acts 2, the first believers made it a habit. In Acts 6, the elders of the church commissioned deacons so that they could do it. Paul instructs the church in Romans 12 and Colossians 4 to do it, and he instructs husband and wife to make special time in order to be devoted to prayer. In other words, it is modeled for us and we are instructed to make this a part of our lives.

What does it mean to be devoted to prayer? If I am, how do I know it? If I'm not, how to I become devoted? What did the disciples model for us and what does Paul want us to do, exactly?

There are a few quick observations about these passages as a collection:

• Paul doesn't really spell out what he means, so we can assume that he expected all three of his very different audiences to know what he meant. Therefore, it's likely not something esoteric, bizarre, rare, complicated, or subtly nuanced. Without explanation, it seems like Paul is talking about something ordinary and easy to understand.
• Being devoted to prayer in every case is part of a larger set of behaviors. For example, being devoted to prayer and to the teaching of the apostles; being devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word; rejoicing, enduring, and being devoted to prayer; being devoted to prayer as part of your marriage; being devoted to prayer while keeping alert with thanksgiving. Being devoted to prayer is not the only thing, and it's part of a larger picture of being a follower of Jesus.
• We are told to do it. Therefore, we should be able to choose to do it. It makes no sense to command you to do something you have no ability to choose to do. "Be French!"
• One devotes himself to prayer. Paul doesn't tell us to make prayer a vital part of our lives. He doesn't tell us to devote a block of time every day to prayer. He tells us to devote ourselves to prayer. The Greek word means to apply yourself to something exclusively and tirelessly. We are to apply ourselves to prayer exclusively and tirelessly.

It's easy to understand tirelessly. If someone is devoted to prayer, he prays continually. He doesn't stop praying because he's tired, or especially because he's tired of praying. He's never too exhausted to pray. When God is not giving him some good thing he's asking for, the only reason he stops praying is because he believes the answer is, "No." When someone says, "Let's pray about that first," he doesn't roll his eyes and sigh, and consent to pray just because it's "unspiritual" not to. Tiredness is a non-factor for his praying.

The idea of exclusively is a little tricky, though. At first, it seems obvious. But exclusive of what? And didn't we just observe that being devoted to prayer is part of a larger picture (be devoted to prayer and ...)? 

Remember that we're not devoting prayer to something, but devoting ourselves to prayer. We are applying ourselves exclusively to prayer. Not a part of our day. Not the first part of a meeting. Ourselves. "Devote yourselves to prayer."

Being devoted to prayer means that there is no other strategy on par with prayer. Our own effort, even though necessary, is not on par with prayer. Following a set of rules or human strategies, though useful, is not on par with prayer. Other strategies don't compete with prayer, don't replace prayer, don't precede prayer in importance. Prayer is the one thing we make sure we do, and then we work the other things in, rather than relying on our own strategies and praying if there's time. It means not doing some things until after you've prayed. Every strategy is optional except prayer.

Being a consistent pray-er requires an impressive dedication. But being devoted to prayer requires sacrificing other strategies enough for prayer to be the first and pre-eminent strategy for approaching life and all its challenges. Prayer is how we can most help others.

Given this understanding of prayer, I realize that I know only a few people who exemplify what I see in these passages. But I also know that I want to be one of those people one day. This goal will require the death of some long-held priorities that "fit" prayer instead of requiring prayer as the sole necessary ingredient. I would love to one day be able to humbly say that I am devoted to prayer.