1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,320 His saw goes after the telephone pole and begins to go to work. 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,920 And all you hear on the telephone line is a click. 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,600 And the young lady wonders what happened to the party on the other end. 4 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,760 If you're a parent of a teenager, you can identify with that. 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:24,200 A lot of us like to go away on vacation in order to get away from the telephone. 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:29,720 We want to get away from people for a while, though that's hard to do when you are one. 7 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:34,920 We like to be in isolation, at least for a little while. 8 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:40,720 But the fact is that most of us desire to communicate with others because God has made 9 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:41,720 us that way. 10 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:48,440 We are creatures who need to communicate with other creatures like ourselves. 11 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:53,880 And we are creatures who need to communicate with our Creator God. 12 00:00:53,880 --> 00:01:00,600 We have that deep need within too. 13 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:07,480 When one trusts the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, there is a wonderful communication 14 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:13,040 link that is established between himself and God. 15 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:19,560 But it is prayer which is the use of that communication link. 16 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:24,600 Prayer does not in itself establish a relationship with God. 17 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:31,240 There are people who say prayers who have no relationship with God. 18 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:38,000 But the fact is when one has a relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 19 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,320 prayer is the use of that communication link. 20 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:49,120 Prayer is the divinely provided means for each of us to develop our relationship to 21 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:50,120 the eternal God. 22 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:56,480 Few of us frankly need more information regarding prayer. 23 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,480 What we need is inspiration. 24 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,640 We don't really need more preaching on prayer. 25 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,600 We need more practicing of prayer. 26 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,720 As we think about our memory verse for today, Colossians 4-2, I'd like for you to notice 27 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:17,560 with me three characteristics that ought to be practiced in our prayer life. 28 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:22,280 In the first place, prayer is to be practiced with devotion. 29 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:29,160 We are told here, devote yourselves to prayer. 30 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:39,240 To be a Christian is in its essence to have a relationship, a relationship with God. 31 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:47,760 A relationship can exist but be left undeveloped without communication that is. 32 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:54,760 And frankly it takes devotion to communication in order to develop a relationship. 33 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,280 You think of marriage in that regard. 34 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:04,040 Legally, marriage exists as soon as the marriage license has been signed by the appropriate 35 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,040 parties. 36 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,240 There is a relationship there. 37 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,960 That relationship however will be left undeveloped unless there is communication between the 38 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,560 husband and the wife. 39 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:23,080 And communication as all of us are learning takes time. 40 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:29,280 It takes transparency, meaning to be honest with one another. 41 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,840 And it takes a willingness to listen as well as to speak. 42 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:42,000 In fact, perhaps that is the key to being a good communicator, being a good listener. 43 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,560 There are some marriages hurting today that are stunted and undeveloped because husband 44 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,040 and wife have not yet learned to really communicate. 45 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:59,440 I can't stress how important it is for communication to be developed between the two of you so 46 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,720 that your relationship can develop. 47 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:08,440 Now if that is true of a marriage, how much more true is that of our relationship with 48 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:09,440 God? 49 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:17,040 It says here that our communication with God is to be a matter of definite devotion. 50 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,320 Devote yourselves to prayer. 51 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:30,840 This word means to adhere to, to persist in, to busy oneself with, to be busily engaged 52 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:33,520 in prayer. 53 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:41,000 And Paul writes to the Romans as he gives to them a list of important steps for their 54 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:42,000 growth. 55 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:49,120 One of them in Romans 12, 12 is be devoted to prayer, the same word. 56 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:53,800 Be yourself with prayer, he says. 57 00:04:53,800 --> 00:05:00,600 And then the familiar verse at the end of Ephesians chapter 6, with all prayer and petition, 58 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:11,160 pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance. 59 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,560 That word means devotion, the very same word as in Colossians. 60 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:23,520 With all devotion, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. 61 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:29,160 Prayer for us is not a luxury, it is a necessity. 62 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:33,800 It is as necessary as food is to the body. 63 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:38,880 It is vital to the health of the inner man and the development of our relationship with 64 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,760 God depends upon our prayer life. 65 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:50,960 I repeat, you and I can have that relationship with God for that comes by simple faith, the 66 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,760 exercise of our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. 67 00:05:54,760 --> 00:06:04,040 But that relationship will never develop beyond mere infancy until we have learned to devote 68 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:09,760 ourselves to communicating with God, getting in touch with Him. 69 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:19,000 A growing Christian is a praying Christian and there are no exceptions to that principle. 70 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:23,160 A growing Christian is a praying Christian. 71 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:31,640 I am developing in my Christian life to the exact ratio that my prayer life is developing. 72 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:37,560 That's why we are told here with such strong terms, devote yourselves to prayer because 73 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:38,560 it is essential. 74 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:43,800 Prayer is to be practiced with devotion. 75 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:51,120 If I want to keep from becoming a stagnant Christian, then I must develop my prayer life. 76 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:58,280 If I want to move out of stagnancy and staleness in my Christian life, the secret to that is 77 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:03,240 developing my prayer life, devoting myself to prayer. 78 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:10,200 Then notice that we are to practice our prayer with diligence. 79 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:20,720 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it, keeping alert in it, being vigilant or being 80 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:21,720 diligent. 81 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:27,160 All of those words are used in various translations. 82 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:36,520 Preachance differs from devotion in that this word implies a certain danger being present. 83 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:41,480 The word means be awake, be alert, be watchful. 84 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:52,280 What are the threats to our prayer experience against which we are to be alert and awake? 85 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,080 Let me just suggest to you two or three of them very quickly. 86 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:01,560 The final threat is that of carelessness. 87 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:09,360 A danger in any relationship, be it a friendship or marriage or a relationship at work with 88 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,240 your employer or employee. 89 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:20,440 A danger in any relationship is that of carelessness, beginning to take the other person for granted 90 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:26,720 to take for granted the privileges that you enjoy with that other person. 91 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:35,000 Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 26, 41, in the Garden of Disseminy, latch, here's 92 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:44,200 the same word, latch, be vigilant, be diligent, be alert, disciples, and pray lest you fall 93 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,840 into temptation. 94 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:53,440 They took for granted that relationship with Jesus and fell asleep in the Garden of Disseminy. 95 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,360 The disciples were sleepy. 96 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:08,040 You and I need to be aware of spiritual drowsiness, of lethargy of spirit that arises out of carelessness. 97 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,560 That is a threat to the prayer life. 98 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:17,000 The second threat to our prayer lives is worldliness. 99 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:26,480 My soul and yours are deadened by the love of the world. 100 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:33,760 By over exposure to it, we are made insensitive to the things of God. 101 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:43,280 To fill our hearts, our minds with the pursuit of money, the desire for things and possessing 102 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:52,600 them, a quest for pleasure, will absolutely kill your prayer life. 103 00:09:52,600 --> 00:10:01,640 If you want to dull your spiritual walk with God, watch a lot of television, allow yourself 104 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:13,360 to be overexposed to the things, the loves, the pursuits, the motives, the goals of the 105 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:23,960 children of wrath around us, and you will cause your spiritual life to be hindered. 106 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:28,400 That is a threat to all of us, the threat of worldliness. 107 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:32,960 Be diligent in light of that. 108 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:40,680 There's a third threat against our prayer lives, and that is the threat of the adversary. 109 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,160 This word is actually a military word. 110 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:52,480 A sentry will be told, be diligent, be alert, be on the watch, don't go to sleep at your 111 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:53,480 post. 112 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,840 You and I have an adversary in Satan. 113 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:07,440 Peter uses the same language, but it says, be vigilant, be sober, for the devil like 114 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:16,480 a roaring lion, your adversary walks about seeking whom he may devour. 115 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,280 So we are to be diligent against our adversary. 116 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:24,680 I think that that probably is the heart of Paul's meaning here. 117 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:30,960 In the context, he goes on to say, pray with the same time for us as well, that God may 118 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:38,120 open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ for 119 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,520 which I have also been imprisoned. 120 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,400 Paul has had some opposition. 121 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:46,640 The enemy has attacked him. 122 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,360 He's in prison, writing now to some churches, including the church of Colossae. 123 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:58,960 And he says, you pray for me under attack, that I will look for those doors of opportunity 124 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:03,960 to speak the word in the situation where I am. 125 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:09,240 There was a danger that Paul faced, and that was that he might not take the door of opportunity 126 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,880 because of Satan's opposition. 127 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:18,080 And so he prays and asks them to pray for him in this time of danger. 128 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,520 My friend, Satan would shut you down. 129 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:26,720 He has no desire for you to progress in your Christian life. 130 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,960 And believe me, he is capable of doing that. 131 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:38,160 He can shut you down faster than you can believe if you allow him to do it. 132 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:43,760 That's why our prayer life is to be practiced with diligence. 133 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:49,480 Practice of prayer is required if we're going to develop our relationship with God. 134 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:58,400 All of us today are hurting for the Chinese people who have desired freedom. 135 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:05,720 We are especially burdened and concerned for those leaders of that movement in China, and 136 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:11,440 in a special way, those who are Christians and who were the leaders of it. 137 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:16,400 There were a number of Christians, leading Christians in China, who were among the most 138 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,840 vocal in the cry for freedom. 139 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:27,280 And all of us suspect what that may well mean for them now, that that desire for freedom 140 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:31,840 has at least for the time being been crushed. 141 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:38,320 Perhaps you were moved, as I was, this past week by the news account of that one Chinese 142 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:46,880 young man who stood in front of a line of tanks and brought them to a halt. 143 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:52,880 Single-handedly, taking his life, putting everything on the line, he stood before that 144 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,560 line of tanks and the driver of the tank did not run over him. 145 00:13:56,560 --> 00:14:00,960 He tried to turn to the right and the student stepped to his left. 146 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,840 And the driver tried to turn to the left and the student stepped back to the right and 147 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:10,160 finally climbed up onto the lead tank and stood on it, trying to speak to the driver 148 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,400 inside, telling him to turn around. 149 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:18,720 And then he got down off the tank and the tank tried to go again and the student stepped 150 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,960 in front of the tank again. 151 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:27,440 And finally, friends spared his life undoubtedly by actually taking him by the arms and pulling 152 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:28,440 him away. 153 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:35,440 My friend, it takes that kind of diligence to put a stop to our adversary. 154 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:42,240 It takes that kind of courage in prayer to bring our enemy to a halt. 155 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:50,240 I call upon all of us today in prayer to stand in the way of the adversary, that he may not 156 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,240 have his way. 157 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:59,440 Prayer is to be practiced with diligence. 158 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:03,840 And then finally, prayer is to be practiced with doxology. 159 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:12,640 Revoke yourselves to prayer keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving, writes 160 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:13,640 Paul. 161 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:20,800 The word thanksgiving is the origin of our English word, Eucharist. 162 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,560 The Greek word is Eucharista. 163 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:28,560 It comes from a combination of words meaning to give freely and well. 164 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:34,120 It is an expression of joy which is directed toward God. 165 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:39,600 The same word is used earlier here in the chapter, verse 15 of chapter 3. 166 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:45,080 He says, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in 167 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,560 one body and be thankful. 168 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:54,200 Again in verse 17, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 169 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,480 giving thanks through him to God the Father. 170 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:02,120 Why is it that Paul emphasizes thanksgiving? 171 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:09,560 Why is it that he tells us to practice prayer with doxology, with an expression of thanks 172 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,760 being sent to God? 173 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,160 I'd like to suggest three reasons. 174 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:19,880 In the first place, because our natural tendency is to forget to be grateful. 175 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:25,520 Most of us are like the lepers who went away healed, but we do not come back to say thank 176 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,760 you to Jesus. 177 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,800 We do not have to train our children to be ungrateful doing. 178 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:42,720 We have to teach our children and remind ourselves to say thank you, to be grateful. 179 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:47,080 I believe he also tells us that we should practice prayer with thanksgiving because 180 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:54,600 that's always the appropriate attitude by which to address and come before such a gracious 181 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,240 and generous God as we have. 182 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:02,240 It's always appropriate for us to come before him with thanksgiving. 183 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:10,080 And finally, we should practice prayer with doxology because it suggests submission to 184 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:15,280 the will of God in however he chooses to respond to our prayers. 185 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:21,760 If we come before God with our petitions, with a grateful heart, that is saying, Lord, 186 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:28,440 here is my desire, here is my petition, and now your will be done and I will be a grateful 187 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:29,440 servant. 188 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:39,240 Prayer is to be practiced with devotion, with diligence, and with doxology. 189 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:46,400 If you have made a commitment to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, God has brought you 190 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:56,720 into a new relationship with himself, a relationship that can be described as a union between you 191 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:57,720 and Jesus. 192 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:08,000 As though he were a vine and you the branch, you share the same life essence with him. 193 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:15,480 To see that relationship with him grow, you must get in touch with God. 194 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:25,120 And prayer is the divinely provided means by which your relationship with God develops. 195 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:34,480 But there is a problem that all of us face and we need to address it honestly and transparently. 196 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:42,120 And that is the problem of busyness. 197 00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:50,000 Busyness is perhaps the most dangerous enemy of one's growth as a Christian. 198 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:56,480 For we think ourselves too busy to pray. 199 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:02,280 I owe an illustration to Bill Hybels that I'm going to give you in which Bill said, 200 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:10,720 God has created us as it were to operate at 5,000 rpm's. 201 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:17,480 In the world in which we live however, most of us operate at 10,000 rpm. 202 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:22,360 That's why we're under so much stress. 203 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:26,680 And we wonder why we don't hear from God. 204 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:31,560 We wonder why God seems distant. 205 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:38,960 The answer is that God speaks to us at 500 rpm's. 206 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:46,840 Our need is to slow down to hear the voice of God. 207 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,680 We must slow down to pray. 208 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:57,040 Yes, it's possible to pray in a rush and all of us have from time to time. 209 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:03,440 My friend, you're kidding yourself if you think that your relationship with God is going 210 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,160 to develop by that kind of praying. 211 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:14,440 When we have to, we can pray on the run because we can pray anytime. 212 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:20,000 But the kind of prayer that produces development of our relationship with God is the kind that 213 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:28,080 is born out of periods of silence and reflection. 214 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:35,080 We need times built into our lives for solitude and quiet. 215 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,160 You say you don't understand my life. 216 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:43,840 Oh yes I do because I have one very similar to yours. 217 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,680 Life is busy. 218 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:53,760 Life is full of pressures and stress and we rev up our engines to meet all of that. 219 00:20:53,760 --> 00:21:02,240 But unless we somehow find a way to idle back to 500 rpm's, we will pass through this life 220 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:10,880 and miss the essence of it because we will not have developed a relationship with God. 221 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:17,600 So we have a question, how do we get down to our idle speed? 222 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:26,800 How do we back off and find ourselves quiet enough to talk to God and to pray and then 223 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:27,800 to listen to Him? 224 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,640 I want to suggest a project for you. 225 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:36,080 I'm going to ask you to do this for just one week. 226 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:41,880 Frankly it is my sincere desire that you will want to go on and do it for the rest of your 227 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:42,880 life. 228 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:49,280 But I want to ask you to do this project for one week only. 229 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:55,120 And perhaps next Sunday evening we can have some time for sharing from some of you who 230 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:59,920 have followed through on this project to see how it went with you, what you may have learned 231 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:02,560 from it. 232 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:08,960 I want to give you a project that's called journaling. 233 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:14,000 That's a new word for some of you, in fact it's a new word for Webster's Dictionary. 234 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,680 What it simply means is to keep a journal. 235 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:24,920 If you look back at the lives of many of the great men and women of God through the centuries, 236 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:30,380 you will find that many of them practiced this spiritual discipline of keeping some 237 00:22:30,380 --> 00:22:33,440 kind of a written record of their walk with God. 238 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,680 You say, well how do you journal? 239 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:40,480 What does it mean to keep a spiritual journal? 240 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:48,080 Well in the first place you're going to need a pen and something to write your journal 241 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:49,080 in. 242 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:50,080 I would suggest to you a notebook. 243 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:55,680 Now if you don't want to go out and invest in a notebook for a week, that's fine, get 244 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,160 some papers, put them together. 245 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,680 But this is the kind of notebook that I have. 246 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:07,280 So you need a pen and you need a notebook. 247 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:17,320 You're going to need to set aside each day approximately 20 to 30 minutes in order to 248 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:18,320 do this. 249 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,280 I don't know when that may be for you. 250 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:24,560 It may be that lunch is a place, there's a place where you can get away at work and be 251 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:25,560 quiet. 252 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:33,320 Lock yourself in a store room or in a store. 253 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:39,400 For most of us it probably will happen at home either in the morning or the evening. 254 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:42,920 Morning is a good time to do it. 255 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:47,400 A lot of people get up with a lot of energy in the morning and it's good to devote that 256 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,040 initial energy to God. 257 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:51,480 But some would prefer to wait till night. 258 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,520 The time is not important, the practice is what's important. 259 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,720 20 to 30 minutes. 260 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:02,640 When you have that time isolated in your mind, and I hope that even now you're able to focus 261 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,680 in on a possible time beginning tomorrow. 262 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:13,440 Once you've done that, the practice goes something like this. 263 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,400 And I say something like this because I'm going to suggest to you simply one way to 264 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:18,400 do it. 265 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,400 There are variations galore. 266 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,400 And you may find a better way for you and that's fine. 267 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,360 I'm going to share with you simply what I do. 268 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:31,600 And I picked it up from a very fine book called Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Heidels. 269 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,040 If you would like to read a book this summer, we're encouraging you to do that. 270 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,040 Here's a book that will stretch you. 271 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,520 It will be interesting and fun to read. 272 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:41,000 Bill is very transparent. 273 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,960 He is the pastor of the Willow Creek Church in Chicago. 274 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,200 The intriguing title, Too Busy Not to Pray. 275 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:54,080 Another book, while I'm talking about books, that you might want to read and which talks 276 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:59,720 about journaling as well as a broader range of spiritual disciplines is one called Ordering 277 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,320 Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald. 278 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:07,640 I would encourage you to get either or both of these books and to make them part of your 279 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,960 reading list for the summer months in your adventure with God. 280 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:19,440 Now I'll go back to the journal, you would open it up to page one, put the date at the 281 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:25,080 top of it, and then for a few minutes reflect on what happened yesterday. 282 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:30,280 In other words, tomorrow we'll think about Sunday. 283 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:36,440 And as you reflect, begin to write down those things that impressed you about today. 284 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:41,920 Perhaps the things you accomplished, the people that you met, things that you learned, feelings 285 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:48,680 that you experienced, impressions left from yesterday that you believe God gave to your 286 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:53,000 heart, those kinds of things. 287 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,400 This is a period of reflection. 288 00:25:55,400 --> 00:26:00,000 You begin there and write at least a paragraph. 289 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,280 You may want to write as much as a page, but I would encourage you not to go beyond that. 290 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:10,840 I got a small notebook so that when I got my page filled up I'd have to stop. 291 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:15,560 You may want to abbreviate and say what if somebody gets a hold of it and reads it? 292 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,080 Well you keep it, or you don't want them to get a hold of it. 293 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:24,360 If you're going to put those kinds of things in here, I would encourage you to begin by 294 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:28,640 writing something about yesterday, at least a paragraph. 295 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,240 You know what will happen? 296 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:37,480 You'll find that once you have done that, the motor on your spirit will begin idling 297 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:42,240 back toward 500, but don't stop there. 298 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,000 Then turn to the back of the notebook. 299 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,360 You're going to become a Hebrew now. 300 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:50,080 And begin writing from the back toward the middle. 301 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:58,880 Now on the back page, again put down the date and write out your prayer. 302 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:02,960 But that will be tough for some of us. 303 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:07,080 For some who don't believe in writing out prayers. 304 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:10,680 I'm glad some people have down through the years because as I've read their records, 305 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,400 my heart's been blessed. 306 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:17,840 I challenge you to write down your prayer to God. 307 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,880 And again limit it to one page. 308 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,120 Put down the things you want to. 309 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:29,600 You may want to follow the axe acronym, ACTS. 310 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:34,600 Begin with a few statements of adoration, and then confession, and thanksgiving, and 311 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:35,600 supplication. 312 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,720 And follow that outline. 313 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,520 But write out your prayer. 314 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:45,240 And once you've done that, then get down on your knees and read it. 315 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:51,880 And as you read it, you may want to elaborate to God about what you've written. 316 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,280 You'll find the most remarkable thing. 317 00:27:55,280 --> 00:28:02,360 Once you have written the page on reflection, and then the page on prayer, you will find 318 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:06,040 your RPM is very close to 500. 319 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,480 There's one more step. 320 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:14,760 And that is to be silent before God and listen to the voice of God. 321 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:27,560 You may want to ask God, what is there that you would like to do in my character? 322 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:32,360 And then just be quiet and listen and wait for those impressions to be laid upon your 323 00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:34,880 mind that God would put there. 324 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:41,680 Or you may want to say, God, what is it you want to do in our family? 325 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:50,760 Or you may ask, Lord, how can I be more effective at work as your representative? 326 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:56,440 Well, Lord, what is your will for me in this situation? 327 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:01,200 So don't ask the questions that fast. 328 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:07,720 Separate the questions a bit and give a few seconds there, even a few minutes, to silently 329 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:08,720 wait on God. 330 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:15,560 Say, well, how do I know if those impressions that are laid upon me are from God or not? 331 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,440 Well, Bill Heidels gives some excellent suggestions about that. 332 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,040 But let me just give you three quick thoughts. 333 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:27,440 Number one, the impression should be consistent with the word of God. 334 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:31,560 God is not going to impress your heart with his still small voice by something that's 335 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:37,480 inconsistent with what he's put down in black and white. 336 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:43,120 Another suggestion is that that impression should be consistent with who you are, who 337 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,560 God has made you to be. 338 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:52,400 His still small voice is likely going to say something consistent with what God has made 339 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:56,720 you to be, the kind of person he's made you, the gifts he's given you. 340 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:03,400 If it's different, then you need to weigh that impression very carefully. 341 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:09,880 Another suggestion, does this impression lead me in the direction of becoming more of a 342 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:10,880 servant? 343 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:19,520 For if that impression that comes to my heart is grandiose and self-serving and self-promoting, 344 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:21,000 then I need to suspect it. 345 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,960 Those are just three quick thoughts. 346 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,120 But listen for the voice of God. 347 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:32,040 You say, well, what if God doesn't say anything? 348 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:33,880 He may not. 349 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:36,240 Don't worry about it. 350 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:43,040 Have you ever asked your wife a question and she said nothing to you? 351 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:46,600 Not because she's angry, but because she has really nothing to say? 352 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:50,800 Or your husband comes home and you say, well, how did your day go? 353 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,800 He says, it's fine. 354 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:57,880 That sums it up as far as he's concerned. 355 00:30:57,880 --> 00:30:59,880 You want to hear a little more than that. 356 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:05,720 But it may be that God doesn't have an impression to put in your heart at that moment. 357 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:11,400 Will you take that project for one week and practice it in your life? 358 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,720 If you do that, I believe that you'll come back next Sunday a little bit of a different 359 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:16,720 person. 360 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:23,440 And if you will take this project and make it a regular practice in your life over months 361 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:32,760 and even years, you will find your life revolutionized and your relationship with God greatly developed. 362 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:38,840 I remember being in a busy city at one time and there was in the midst of that hubbub 363 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,880 and hassle of the city, a garden. 364 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:44,880 Just a small courtyard. 365 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:49,320 I was able to step into that courtyard and sit down and there within that courtyard, 366 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:52,560 within those walls, the noise was gone. 367 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:55,720 And there was a bird in there singing. 368 00:31:55,720 --> 00:32:00,120 The flowers were blooming. 369 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:05,680 I want you to know that your prayer life is like a garden. 370 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:10,000 It's a garden that needs to be cultivated. 371 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:12,440 The weeds need to be ripped out. 372 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,000 The soil turned up. 373 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:15,000 Good seed planted. 374 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:22,800 But friend, if you will cultivate and develop that garden, it will be a place like no other 375 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,360 place on earth to you. 376 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:32,560 And Jesus will meet you there in that garden and you will find your relationship with Him 377 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,560 growing and developing. 378 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,440 I pray that that will be an experience for all of us. 379 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:46,280 Let's bow together now in prayer. 380 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:55,280 The old gospel song says, he speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet. 381 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:59,200 The birds hushed their singing. 382 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:06,720 When was the last time that you heard that voice? 383 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:10,840 Because your heart was hushed long enough to hear it. 384 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:19,920 Will you in the closing second say, Lord, I want to follow through in this project this 385 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:26,240 week, give me the grace and strength and discipline to do it. 386 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:29,520 Will you make that commitment right now? 387 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:44,600 Lord Jesus, I pray that as a result of our prayer lives developing, we might grow and 388 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:53,520 find a new joy, a new beginning, a new excitement in our Christian experience because of it. 389 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:59,760 May that be true of every brother and sister here today. 390 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:03,320 Bless these days upcoming. 391 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:12,960 We pray this out of the sincerity of our hearts. 392 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:16,720 Amen. 393 00:34:16,720 --> 00:34:22,880 We're going to sing together number 418. 394 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:29,640 John is going to lead us, so it is chorus number C, letter C on page 418, right in the 395 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:43,160 middle of the page.