BEING VIGILANT IN PRAYER

"CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, BEING VIGILANT IN IT WITH THANKSGIVING."
Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)

One thing that believers should not get wearied of is prayer. Apostle Paul was admonishing the the Colossians believers to continue earnestly in prayer and they should be vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).
A good number of believers are lazy in prayer, they find it difficult to pray whilst they are alone in their homes. The only time some believers pray is when they gather with other believers which might be a minimal time.
Prayer should be an integral or essential part of whatever every believer is doing. In fact, a believer should always be in the mood of prayer. You can be praying while you are doing whatever you are doing, going about your daily activities praying alongside. This is possible especially when what you are doing does not require full engagement of your mind—it is usually done by praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2; Jude 20).

There are three altars of prayer that every believer should raise:
I. Congregational altar of prayer
II. Family altar of prayer.
III. Personal or private altar of prayer.

I. The congregational altar of prayer is the altar of prayer which you gather with other believers in your local church or the fellowship of believers you belong.
At times, It could also be the gathering of like minded believers who gather for prayers, for one particular purpose or the other.
This altar is important in a believer's life and should always be serviced, because when you are in such a gathering, you are under the corporate anointing of the Holy Spirit. Issues or challenges of life that could not be solved or handled alone by yourself would always be solved or done by God with ease because the problem is brought under a corporate or mass anointing which the devil or whatever demon behind the problem could not resist other than to loose its hold.
Believers are admonished not to forsake the assembling or gathering of believers or brethren; It was because of this and such a reason the admonition was given (Hebrews 10:25).

II. Family altar of prayer is another important altar that a believer's family should raise. A husband and wife with their children should have a time which they pray together as a family. In such a prayer time, the issues that are bothering the family would be unanimously agreed on in prayer (Matthew 18:19).
The prayer requests of each member of the family would also be prayed on in such a gathering.
The prayer would also be focused on the friends of the family and acquaintances; coworkers, neighbours, the church and the leadership, and other people with the issues that might be impressed in the heart of any member of the family.
In this altar of prayer, a lot of issues regarding the family affairs are settled or taken care of, as the family jointly prayed on them (Matthew 18:19,20).

III. The third one is the private or personal altar of prayer and it is very important for every believer. Through this altar of prayer you build a strong communion or fellowship or bond with God.
It is at this time of prayer that you would be able to unburden your heart to God, especially on things that could not freely be shared or discussed with anyone, which might be bothering your mind.
In this type of prayer, the growth and intimacy of a believer is usually built with God.
Note: Intimacy with God is not usually built in a congregational altar of prayer or family altar of prayer.
In the two other altars of prayer we have mentioned and discussed, you might not be free enough to tell God everything about your privacy and express yourself freely.
However, when you are alone with God in a solitary or secluded place, the consciousness of having someone around you or someone watching you or disturbing you with his or her voice would not be there, because no one is around to distract you. As a result this facts, you would be able to talk freely with God and assume any posture while praying. You may choose to knee down, prostrate, or take any posture you think is best convenient for you—that which you think is appropriate for you to talk to God that would make Him answer your prayer.
In a church meeting or congregational altar of prayer, you definitely would be conscious of others around and would not be able to do or express yourself the way you like, either by shouting or praying gently.

Note:
It is in this place of private or personal time of prayer that you receive vital things from God which you might not be able to hear when you are with the crowd of people.
This type of private prayer is a usual practice of prayer in the earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ. We have the record of Jesus going out a long while before the day break to a solitary or deserted place to pray (Mark 1:35).
He also on several or often occasions would go on a mountain or a solitary place to pray all night (Luke 5:16; 6:12).
The point being established here is that, Jesus Christ being our role model, the author and finisher of our faith, had this prayer altar raised in His earthly Ministry and usually serviced it.
He had the practice of having a private or personal time of prayer with God the Father.
The success of Jesus' earthly Ministry dependent on the time He usually spent in the place of prayer, conversing with God the Father.

Any believer who would go higher in their faith and walk with God and live a victorious Christian life would not play or joke with his or her private time of prayer which is also known as fellowship or communion with God.
Things that could not be revealed to you by any prophet would be told or revealed to you by God in a time of such private prayer or communion.
Peace.