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Sincerity and honesty are the most important issues when coming before God. While teaching His disciples about prayer, Jesus used a parable that showcased two different pray-ers.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)
Earlier, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had taught some other principles regarding how we should pray. He taught simplicity over ornateness:
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. . . . But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. . . . When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5-8)
While these verses certainly focus on humility in prayer, they also speak to the language we use. God simply wants us to humbly come to Him and share our hearts. We do not need to worry about how we phrase something—in fact, when we do worry about such matters, pride is taking over. Remember, the simple prayer of the thief on the cross, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42), was enough to change the man for all eternity!
Merciful Lord, forgive my prideful attempts to word prayers that will impress others rather than focusing on the majesty of Your throne! May my mind be fixed only on Your glory as I pour out my heart to You. Help me to remember that the Holy Spirit will fill in the intent of every prayer I pray, and that there is nothing coming from my mouth that You cannot understand. Heal my desire to say “just the right thing” and focus my heart on Your kingdom. May I walk in prayerful humility moment by moment as my intent becomes only to pray, “Your will be done!”
--Adapted from The Power of Personal Prayer (Learning to Pray with Faith and Purpose) by Jonathan Graf. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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