When I think about the kind of one thing that someone can give themselves
When I think about the kind of one thing that someone can give themselves

to for maybe a more rich prayer life Colossians 4:2 comes to mind,
to for maybe a more rich prayer life Colossians 4:2 comes to mind,

the call to be watchful in prayer.
the call to be watchful in prayer.

So what's interesting about prayer that I don't think a lot of people really attend
So what's interesting about prayer that I don't think a lot of people really attend

to is that all of your temptations in the Christian life, all your struggles,
to is that all of your temptations in the Christian life, all your struggles,

all your questions, all these deep strategies you have that are actually more
all your questions, all these deep strategies you have that are actually more

mired in sin than in grace they all come out in prayer.
mired in sin than in grace they all come out in prayer.

This is why prayer for many people is a very disorienting reality.
This is why prayer for many people is a very disorienting reality.

Prayer is very lonely place for many people, it's a very confusing place
Prayer is very lonely place for many people, it's a very confusing place

for many people, prayer where kind of wrestling through…what's
for many people, prayer where kind of wrestling through…what's

actually happening here?
actually happening here?

What am I even supposed to be doing here?
What am I even supposed to be doing here?

And the problem is we usually haven't been trained how to be watchful.
And the problem is we usually haven't been trained how to be watchful.

But prayer, to use the constant refrain from the book of Hebrews, is a way
But prayer, to use the constant refrain from the book of Hebrews, is a way

of drawing near to God.
of drawing near to God.

And we pray by drawing near in Christ Jesus, our great high priest who
And we pray by drawing near in Christ Jesus, our great high priest who

has gone beyond the veil that we can actually enter God's presence.
has gone beyond the veil that we can actually enter God's presence.

But one of the things that happens in God's presence is that you come
But one of the things that happens in God's presence is that you come

out of yourself.
out of yourself.

So when you think of 1 John 3:19, 20, we are told there's a Christian who is
So when you think of 1 John 3:19, 20, we are told there's a Christian who is

before him who's in his presence and their heart condemns them.
before him who's in his presence and their heart condemns them.

Notice that John assumes that in God's presence, at times, your heart will
Notice that John assumes that in God's presence, at times, your heart will

condemn you, that for a Christian, that's a live reality.
condemn you, that for a Christian, that's a live reality.

Well, what does he do?
Well, what does he do?

Does he send you back to, you need to get a better prayer technique?
Does he send you back to, you need to get a better prayer technique?

You need to try harder?
You need to try harder?

No.
No.

He says God is greater than your heart and He knows everything.
He says God is greater than your heart and He knows everything.

Notice there's a God-ward movement even in the midst of a heart that seems to be
Notice there's a God-ward movement even in the midst of a heart that seems to be

doing the opposite of what God's about.
doing the opposite of what God's about.

That kind of isn't interpreting God's presence well.
That kind of isn't interpreting God's presence well.

See, prayer is always a place to be utterly honest with God.
See, prayer is always a place to be utterly honest with God.

It's a place to wrestle through all the ways that we seek to use God rather
It's a place to wrestle through all the ways that we seek to use God rather

than be with him.
than be with him.

You know, I'm a seminary professor and one of the things I constantly see with my
You know, I'm a seminary professor and one of the things I constantly see with my

students is my students will often spend quite a lot of time really trying to get
students is my students will often spend quite a lot of time really trying to get

their doctrine of atonement right, and they usually do a pretty good job.
their doctrine of atonement right, and they usually do a pretty good job.

But then when they pray, you know, many of them begin trying to atone
But then when they pray, you know, many of them begin trying to atone

for their sins, that's interesting. In prayer,
for their sins, that's interesting. In prayer,

in the presence of God, suddenly their theology kind of breaks down.
in the presence of God, suddenly their theology kind of breaks down.

I have many students who are very vicious against themselves in prayer because
I have many students who are very vicious against themselves in prayer because

subconsciously what they're hoping will happen is that in prayer,
subconsciously what they're hoping will happen is that in prayer,

I'm harsh on myself.
I'm harsh on myself.

If I see my sin, if I wake up in prayer and realize I've actually been sleeping,
If I see my sin, if I wake up in prayer and realize I've actually been sleeping,

not praying it all, and I feel really guilty.
not praying it all, and I feel really guilty.

They are harsh on themselves because deep down they're hoping if I'm harsh
They are harsh on themselves because deep down they're hoping if I'm harsh

on myself, maybe God won't be harsh on me.
on myself, maybe God won't be harsh on me.

That's kind of a pagan spirituality at heart.
That's kind of a pagan spirituality at heart.

That maybe there's something I can do to kind of get my hooks in God so that he's
That maybe there's something I can do to kind of get my hooks in God so that he's

the God I need him to be or want him to be?
the God I need him to be or want him to be?

But in prayer, we're like Job, we're before the whirlwind.
But in prayer, we're like Job, we're before the whirlwind.

There's no hooks I could get into God there, but in prayer is the only way I can
There's no hooks I could get into God there, but in prayer is the only way I can

come in the presence of God in Christ Jesus.
come in the presence of God in Christ Jesus.

To be watchful to attend to all the strategies I've developed in my sin to try
To be watchful to attend to all the strategies I've developed in my sin to try

to manage God, to try to control God, to try to prove to God that I somehow have
to manage God, to try to control God, to try to prove to God that I somehow have

got my life put together when none of those things can work.
got my life put together when none of those things can work.

Prayer, and the very purpose of prayer, is to embrace the truth that we find
Prayer, and the very purpose of prayer, is to embrace the truth that we find

in Hebrews 4:12, 13 about the Word of God that it is living and active, it is a
in Hebrews 4:12, 13 about the Word of God that it is living and active, it is a

double-edged sword.
double-edged sword.

And what that sword does is it lays bare the thoughts and intentions of our heart,
And what that sword does is it lays bare the thoughts and intentions of our heart,

it leaves us naked and exposed before God and in that place I can pray.
it leaves us naked and exposed before God and in that place I can pray.

And so we think about how do I learn this kind of watchfulness?
And so we think about how do I learn this kind of watchfulness?

Pray the Psalms.
Pray the Psalms.

Because as you pray through the Psalms, one of the first things you'll realize is
Because as you pray through the Psalms, one of the first things you'll realize is

I can't say that to God.
I can't say that to God.

And that's a funny inclination about God's Word.
And that's a funny inclination about God's Word.

See, the Psalms are training you how to speak to God and how to speak in truth.
See, the Psalms are training you how to speak to God and how to speak in truth.

And so you see quite a lot of lament in the Psalms where they're naming evil
And so you see quite a lot of lament in the Psalms where they're naming evil

in the world and they're saying, "God, where are you in this?"
in the world and they're saying, "God, where are you in this?"

They're naming the truth of their struggle with God.
They're naming the truth of their struggle with God.

Pray the Lord's Prayer and allow that to condition your own praying,
Pray the Lord's Prayer and allow that to condition your own praying,

allow that to form how all of your prayers are formed.
allow that to form how all of your prayers are formed.

But as you do so, as you pray the Psalms, as you pray the Lord's Prayer,
But as you do so, as you pray the Psalms, as you pray the Lord's Prayer,

allow those prayers to open you to a watchfulness.
allow those prayers to open you to a watchfulness.

Do I actually want to pray these things?
Do I actually want to pray these things?

Do I want to be forgiven as I have forgiven?
Do I want to be forgiven as I have forgiven?

Because that's pretty uncomfortable if I'm honest.
Because that's pretty uncomfortable if I'm honest.

How do I wrestle with that?
How do I wrestle with that?

When the Psalmist demands to know if God's fallen asleep on the job can I say that
When the Psalmist demands to know if God's fallen asleep on the job can I say that

in prayer or deeply do I believe that what God really wants from me is for me to get
in prayer or deeply do I believe that what God really wants from me is for me to get

my act together and say the right sorts of things?
my act together and say the right sorts of things?

Because if you try to pray as you're supposed to pray, your prayer life goes
Because if you try to pray as you're supposed to pray, your prayer life goes

to die in that place.
to die in that place.

Prayer thrives when it's done honestly, and when it's done at the foot of the
Prayer thrives when it's done honestly, and when it's done at the foot of the

cross because there's now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
cross because there's now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

And so we could come and truly present ourselves to God as Paul encourages the
And so we could come and truly present ourselves to God as Paul encourages the

church at Rome.
church at Rome.