During my homeschooling and caregiving years, there was a time when the 20-minute drive to the grocery store became a sacred space. Instead of listening to music or a podcast, I would talk aloud— to Jesus— as I drove.
Back then, it was the only quiet, uninterrupted place where I could openly talk about my struggles, share how exhausted I felt, and ask why I was still waiting for answers. More often than not, I found myself bringing the same worries to Him over and over again.
Yet the Apostle Paul told believers of that kind of relationship when he wrote,
“Continue steadfastly in prayer…” (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
What Does “Continue Steadfastly” Mean?
Many people read this verse and imagine themselves pausing several times a day for formal prayer.
But Paul meant something different.
The word “continue” conveys a sense of being earnest and persistent, while “steadfastly” suggests unwavering dedication. Another translation puts it as, “Devote yourselves to prayer.”
It isn’t so much how many times we need to pray each day, but that we shouldn’t go a day without it. Prayer should become as normal as breathing.
Why God Wants Your Persistence
In Jeremiah 29:13, God tells the prophet: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” As our Father, He wants us to come to Him in prayer—not just occasionally, but sincerely, with all our heart.
Persistent prayer is faithfully bringing our needs to our loving Father, trusting that He hears every word. It means not giving up when answers don’t come right away.
In Luke 18, Jesus encouraged His disciples to pray and not lose heart, and shared a story to illustrate that God welcomes persistent prayer.
In Jesus’ time, widows often had little legal standing, especially without a male advocate, making it hard to seek justice in the courts. One widow, determined to resolve a matter, took her case to the local judge. He refused her at first, but she refused to give up.
She kept coming back to appeal her case until the judge, worn out from seeing her in court so often, finally gave in and granted her justice.
From this example, Jesus was showing that God, who loves and cares for us, will never ignore us but will always act on our behalf. Our persistence in prayer demonstrates faith that God will hear us, even when the answers seem delayed.
How Prayer Becomes Part of Everyday Life
During my regular, heartfelt car conversations with Jesus, His promise to be close to those who call on Him (Psalm 145:18) became real to me. I found myself more at peace and became more connected to Him.
Over time, I found myself bringing more than just my problems and worries to Him. I began reaching out during the ordinary moments of the day, asking for wisdom and expressing gratitude for the little blessings along the way. My prayers had become a constant posture of dependence on Him.
With that trust, I began to see His guidance leading me in the paths He wanted me to follow (Proverbs 3:5-6).
An Invitation for Today
Praying in the car during that difficult season has remained one of my favorite ways to connect with God, and I’m grateful for the lessons I learned in those moments. With each prayer, I was growing in grace long before His answers would come.
God isn’t waiting for the perfect prayer. He’s inviting you into an ongoing conversation.
What if tomorrow’s drive became your prayer time? Or while folding laundry, washing dishes or walking the dog?
Prayer isn’t just something we do when we need something. It’s how we grow closer to a Father who loves us and delights in hearing from His children.
When we continue steadfastly in prayer, we’re reminded that He is always listening, always near, and always inviting us to come to Him again. Whether we bring the same burden for the hundredth time or simply pause to thank Him for an ordinary moment, every conversation strengthens our relationship with Him.
Prayer isn’t just a habit to practice.
It’s a relationship to enjoy.
We’ve only unpacked the first few words of Colossians 4:2! Next week we’ll explore the next phrase, “being watchful,” and discover why this is so important to our prayer life.
Journaling Prompts
- When during your day do you naturally find yourself talking with God? If you don’t currently have a regular rhythm of conversation with Him, what ordinary moment (driving, walking, folding laundry, making coffee) could become your own “sacred space”?
- Is there a prayer you’ve been tempted to stop praying because the answer seems delayed? Write that in your journal, then spend a few moments giving it to God again with renewed trust.
- What does “continuing steadfastly in prayer” look like in your current season of life? How might God be inviting you to move from occasional prayers to an ongoing conversation with Him?
- Take a moment to thank God for three specific ways He has been faithful to you recently. How does remembering His faithfulness encourage you to keep bringing your needs to Him?
Disclosure: The featured image was created by AI to illustrate this post and does not represent any real person, location, or situation. AI can make mistakes.
I'd love to hear what you think!