Devoted To Prayer

We have been studying prayer in several sermons with several more planned. In the New American Standard translation we find the instruction to be “devoted to prayer” (Rom. 12:12)

The greek word most often used translated “devoted” (proskartere Strong’s #4342) which is also translated as “continue in”, “persist” and “preserve,” is used regarding prayer 5 of the 10 times that it appears in the New Testament. 

Acts 2:42“And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

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

1 Cor. 7:5“Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer…”

Col. 4:2“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving"

There are to other good things to be devoted to that are descriptor int his way in the scriptures such as unity (Acts 1:14; 2:26) and doing God’s will (Rom. 13:6) but not taught so often as prayer.