“God, Be Merciful To Me, A Sinner!”

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14

When you pray do you point out how much better you think you are than someone else? Remember the seriousness of talking to almighty God and the importance of evaluating your own heart.

If we use prayer to point out the faults of others while ignoring our own, we are like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable.

Be careful not to let your prayers become a listing of other’s flaws. The kind of prayer God desires flows out of a humble evaluation of our own sinful hearts.

The highest form of prayer

comes from the depths of a humble heart.

Our Daily Bread – January 27, 2009