Avizandam. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective. and take matters Abyssendum The Welsh preacher Martin Lloyd-Jones said, Man, is at his greatest and highest, when upon his knees he comes face to face with God. Player.
All of us pray. And no Christian minimizes the importance of prayer. Yet most of us would confess that our prayer lives are not the strongest part of our Christian experience. We serve God, we use our gifts, we read our Bibles. We meet with the people of God, we worship, we give generously, and so on.
Yet prayer. Inner lives is often neglected. Why is this? Prayer is a spiritual exercise. and our flesh and the devil are opposed to it.
Prayer takes discipline. Focus. When we pray, our minds often wander. We're so easily distracted. We must be intentional when we're praying.
Paul exhorts us to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. That's Colossians four verse two. In Ephesians 6, verse 18, at the context of putting on the full armor of God, Paul writes, praying at all times in the spirit. withal prayer, and supplication.
So each part of the armor of God is to be put on. with prayer. Our Lord instructed us that we ought always to pray and not lose heart. Luke eighteen verse one. Often, We're weary when we serve the Lord, and we are and were apt to lose heart.
So the spiritual antidote. is prayer. The outstanding example of prayer is our Lord Jesus Christ. Presently I'm preaching through the Gospel according to Luke. and I've been most impressed by the frequent references to our Lord praying.
Throughout his public ministry, Jesus withdraws to desolate places.
sometimes on a mountain, and prays. He was praying at the time of his baptism. for after calling his disciples, Luke says he went out to the mountain to pray. and all night He continued in prayer. to God.
And just prior to Peter's confession that he was the Christ of God, Luke records that our Lord was praying alone. On the Mount of Transfiguration He was praying. Peter, James, and John fell asleep. And it was when our Lord was praying in a certain place, that the disciples asked him, to teach them to pray. Perhaps the best example of our Lord praying is in the garden of Gethsemane when he was in great agony.
In that context Jesus said to the disciples, Pray, that you may not enter into temptation.
So the disciples couldn't fail to observe the importance of prayer in the life of our Lord. He, the The perfect man. loved to spend time in communion with his father. and his God. His ear was open morning by morning, always seeking to do the things which pleased his father.
So if our lives are not characterized by prayer, We shouldn't be surprised when we stumble. When we're spiritually weak, when we lack direction.
So let me encourage you to pray. I know most of you listening to this broadcast read your Bibles. but they also set aside each day a time in prayer. Perhaps begin with ten to fifteen minutes. How do you pray?
What should you pray for?
Well, the Lord taught the disciples to pray, so read that prayer. Also read the prayers of the Apostle Paul in his epistles. A simple guide may be helpful. It's called the Acts, A C T S of prayer, and it's not original with me. A.
adoration. that is, spend some time worshipping God for who He is, in and of himself. Think of some of his attributes. reflect on some of the moral excellencies of our magnificent Lord Jesus. Think of the power and conviction and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
So that's the A. A for adoration. then see for confession When we come before a holy God and ask for our sins to be forgiven, This is essential. forgive us our trespasses. if we confess our sins?
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to us. and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. A for adoration. See for confession. T for Thanksgiving.
Think of all of the blessings of God. Giving thanks is a mark of Christian maturity. The flesh is self seeking. But we who follow Jesus must never take God and His blessings for granted. Give thanks.
Adoration? confession? Thanksgiving. and finally the S of X, supplication. What are you asking God for?
Bip speaker. Pacific. Jesus says we're to ask, to seek, and to knock.
Sometimes we have not received because we have not asked.
So don't be slow to ask God. We are to seek his will rather than our own. But as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. In this way, you can begin to cultivate your prayer life. Then think of the joy of coming together with your fellow believers.
for corporate prayer. Think of praying with your wife and family or a few friends.
So we are prayer. Pray. Avizandam. You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com slash the verdict.
