We are often so concerned with the methods, means and mechanics of Prayer that we often fail to grasp the true importance of our mindset in Prayer. Part of our challenge is that we are caught in the trap of praying the right words and with the right physical posture that we lose the power of Praying with the right spirit. It may be the case that our concerns about the posture and practice of prayer are more motivated by fear, than by Faith. We are trying to avoid the errors of practice and missing the power of expectation.
Jesus relates two parables which illustrate what the scripture records in Luke 18:1b "that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." The second parable included below is found in Luke 18:9-14
"9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
The two men described in this parable are clearly aware that prayer is important. Yet they have very different perspectives about the purpose and effect of prayer. Interestingly enough, the second story is related more to address the issue of false personal righteousness and uses prayer to illustrate its failings, while the first parable about prayer does not include the act of prayer. Listen to the substance of each prayer offered. The Pharisee said,
"‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’"
There are several things that are noticeably absent from the Pharisee's prayer. There is no need or dependence expressed in the Pharisee's prayer. He is speaking to himself others around him and not to the Father. His prayer is not a petition it is a declaration of his personal worth and self-righteousness. His prayer is poor in faith and rich in personal pride.
The second man, "A Despised Tax Collector", Jesus calls him, assumed a very different posture than the Pharisee. The Scripture records that
"he stood at a distance, dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner."
He came to Prayer with a simple spirit of expectation. The tax collector came to prayer knowing his need for mercy, and came to the One he could trust to give him the mercy he needed. The substance of their prayers were different.
One man came to the feast of the Lord full of himself and left empty, the other came empty hungering for the mercies of God and left satisfied. Substance with which we approach God is far more important than the mechanics or method by which we approach Him.
Jesus says of the two men,
"I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Jesus calls the man, "this sinner". We ought to hear the Grace of God in this statement. We are all sinners before a Gracious and Sovereign God, yet some are justified (made right) before because of our expectation and petition while others leave with nothing more than what they brought.
What can we glean from the teachings of Jesus that can be applied to our discipled life and practice today? We can see that personal pride and self-confidence renders our prayer impotent. We see that if we are to pray, we must pray with expectation to the One we believe can and will address our concern. When we pray for ourselves, be mindful of what the scriptures tell us in Hebrews 10:19&20,
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place."
When you pray you are standing face to face with God. How does that reality impact your praying? Your response suggests how you approach the practice and power of prayer ?
For Next Week Read 1Peter 5:1-10