As Christians, we might proclaim, "Heaven, we have a problem." We have a problem completing our mission, especially when it comes to effective prayer. One of the first things we must ask is, "Why do so few people pray the way God wants, even in churches, even on Sundays?"
What is humbly admitting our needs? How about seeking to quickly get things right in confession of sin, making things right with others, and giving heartfelt praise and thanksgiving all seem to be rare in many Christians' lives. I have seen this lack of humility in my own life at times. More so than I would care to admit. So, what is the problem? What is my problem? Pride, perhaps? Definitely so! Pride has to be dealt with, if we are to truly pray God's way.
Humility looks like weakness but is really strength. Pride looks like strength but is really weakness. Humility is weakness that knows the strength of God. Pride is man's self-reliance that will ultimately be revealed in its weakness.
The parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee as told in the following passage really highlights the self centered, conceited, egotistic, and narcissistic mindset that pride can bring us to.
Luke 18:9-14 (NASB) 9) And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10) “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11) “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12) ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13) “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14) “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Jesus forcefully declared that the tax-gatherer went to his home "justified," declared righteous by God Himself, but the Pharisee went home the same way he came to the Temple, unrighteous in the sight of God.
At the heart of Jesus' evaluation was the heart of each man. One man's heart was full of pride and the other willingly humbled himself before God. To Jesus, the essential element was humility before God. The tax-gatherer humbled himself before God, honestly admitting who he was, where he was wrong, and why he needed the forgiveness of God. His sin had offended the Righteous One of Israel, and God alone could forgive him. Seeking forgiveness was this man's focus
The problem of pride will shut down your prayer life as quick as anything, Not only that, you may find yourself in a battle with God. Why? Because He knows pride is based in lies and He stands for the truth.
MARKS OF HUMILITY
Luke 18:9-14 (NASB) 9) And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10) “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11) “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12) ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13) “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14) “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Jesus forcefully declared that the tax-gatherer went to his home "justified," declared righteous by God Himself, but the Pharisee went home the same way he came to the Temple, unrighteous in the sight of God.
At the heart of Jesus' evaluation was the heart of each man. One man's heart was full of pride and the other willingly humbled himself before God. To Jesus, the essential element was humility before God. The tax-gatherer humbled himself before God, honestly admitting who he was, where he was wrong, and why he needed the forgiveness of God. His sin had offended the Righteous One of Israel, and God alone could forgive him. Seeking forgiveness was this man's focus
The problem of pride will shut down your prayer life as quick as anything, Not only that, you may find yourself in a battle with God. Why? Because He knows pride is based in lies and He stands for the truth.
MARKS OF HUMILITY
- Admits one's need
- Admits one cannot meet the need
- Acknowledges God can meet the need
- Asks God to meet the need
- Always trusts God with the way in which He decides to meet the need, including in His timing
Here is a vital truth. God tests us to train us, not to draw us into sin, for that is what the devil does. God wants to draw us into a new level of humility, of knowing Him, seeing His power and wisdom in a new dimension. He wants to move us to a new level of faith and trust in Him. He wants us to walk in humble dependence manifested in prayer and obedience to His Word. The alternative is a proud self-will that always leads to sin and disobedience. Understand that every sin is rooted in pride and every sin is the result of believing a lie.
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