Humility is vital for prayers that please God.
Of course, some humility is essential if we pray at all. A proud person sees no need of God, believing he or she can handle life without help.
But great men and women in the Bible leaned on God. They knew they were weak and he was strong. They turned to him for support, guidance, and a lasting relationship.
Indeed, as the apostle Paul notes in Philippians 2, Jesus himself did not cling to his status as equal to the Father in heaven, but humbled himself, taking on human flesh and dying on the cross for us.
So, how about us as ordinary praying people? Are we humble or proud? Are there areas of our lives that we wall off from God?
Are we like the Pharisee or the tax collector in Jesus' story in Luke 18 of the two men who prayed in the temple?
The Pharisee - a member of the religious elite in Jerusalem - looked over at the taxpayer and thanked God that he wasn't like robbers and the tax collector. He pointed out to God that "I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
On the other hand, the taxpayer knew he was doing wrong. He couldn't 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," said Jesus. "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
As I think about humility, I think about the areas in my life that I am proud of. There are a number of them. Yet, the older I get, the more I realize that I have to let them go - release them to God. In the end, my relationship with God is the only thing that will matter in eternity.
As well, I have yet to let God have full entry into other areas that I am reluctant to surrender to him.
I am mindful of the great passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14, a verse I often quote in this blog.
The Lord tells King Solomon there will be times when he will punish his people for turning away from him. However, he adds that "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
The first step to healing is humility, seeking God's face and calling out to him in prayer.
God honours humble, honest prayers.
Of course, some humility is essential if we pray at all. A proud person sees no need of God, believing he or she can handle life without help.
But great men and women in the Bible leaned on God. They knew they were weak and he was strong. They turned to him for support, guidance, and a lasting relationship.
Indeed, as the apostle Paul notes in Philippians 2, Jesus himself did not cling to his status as equal to the Father in heaven, but humbled himself, taking on human flesh and dying on the cross for us.
So, how about us as ordinary praying people? Are we humble or proud? Are there areas of our lives that we wall off from God?
Are we like the Pharisee or the tax collector in Jesus' story in Luke 18 of the two men who prayed in the temple?
The Pharisee - a member of the religious elite in Jerusalem - looked over at the taxpayer and thanked God that he wasn't like robbers and the tax collector. He pointed out to God that "I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
On the other hand, the taxpayer knew he was doing wrong. He couldn't 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," said Jesus. "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
As I think about humility, I think about the areas in my life that I am proud of. There are a number of them. Yet, the older I get, the more I realize that I have to let them go - release them to God. In the end, my relationship with God is the only thing that will matter in eternity.
As well, I have yet to let God have full entry into other areas that I am reluctant to surrender to him.
I am mindful of the great passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14, a verse I often quote in this blog.
The Lord tells King Solomon there will be times when he will punish his people for turning away from him. However, he adds that "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
The first step to healing is humility, seeking God's face and calling out to him in prayer.
God honours humble, honest prayers.
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