Poor People: Pray Humbly
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—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 all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)
'Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. At the throne of God's grace, we are all poor, and must use entreaties' (Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 18:23).
God’s Word shows different kinds of prayer: prayers of faith, praise, worship, thanksgiving, agreement, contrition, confession, consecration, contemplation, supplication, affirmation, intercession, and praying in tongues.*
God also shows different times to pray: at certain hours, in early mornings, in all-night vigils, during our trials, prayer before meals, and before big moves. He’s all about prayer without ceasing.
In terms of our physical position, we can see different forms in prayer, including postures of sitting, kneeling, bowing, walking, lying face down, and standing with arms raised. Even chest-beating!
Confession: I'm not a prayer expert. Nor do I always “practice what I preach.” The more I learn and the older I get, the more I can see how little I know. Nevertheless, I share 3 conclusions:
When prayer turns into thoughtless routines, our prayer life weakens and gets crusty. When we can't wait to finish, we're stagnant.
We must repent and reconnect to God. Our heads and hearts must be fully engaged for the Almighty to engage with us.
Humility in prayer is crucial. By our own merits, we deserve nothing. By Jesus ONLY… are we more than dust.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
In this sobering yet uplifting truth…
Let us embrace our roles as poor people… for our heartfelt prayers to be answered.
Poor People: Pray Humbly (Part 9)
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.
* Short articles on different types of prayers:
* What are the different types of prayer? | GotQuestions.org
* Quotes about prayer:
'Gentlemen, I have lived a long time and am convinced that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I move that prayer imploring the assistance of Heaven be held every morning before we proceed to business' (Benjamin Franklin).
'Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. If you may have everything by asking in His Name, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is' (Charles Spurgeon).
'If you are strangers to prayer, you are strangers to power' (Billy Sunday).
'I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I'm praying, but also something wonderful happens to me' (Maya Angelou).
'Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer' (D.L. Moody).
'God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who uttered them' (E.M. Bounds).
'To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing' (Dr. Martin Luther King).
'Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God's work... Prayer succeeds when all else fails' (E.M. Bounds).
'I know of no better thermometer to your spiritual temperature than this, the measure of the intensity of your prayer... It is that burning lava of prayer that finds its way to God. No prayer ever reaches God's Heart which does not come from our hearts' (Charles Spurgeon).
'True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer than a fine oration of great length' (Charles Spurgeon).
'Flamed desires, impassioned, unwearied insistence delight Heaven. God would have His children incorrigibly in earnest and persistently bold in their efforts. Heaven is too busy to listen to half-hearted prayers or to respond to pop-calls. Our whole being must be in our praying' (E.M. Bounds).
‘Methinks every true Christian should be exceedingly earnest in prayer concerning the souls of the ungodly; and when they are so, how abundantly God blesses them and how the church prospers!' (Charles Spurgeon).
'Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?' (Corrie Ten Boom).
'I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone' (D.L. Moody).
'Neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church' (Charles Spurgeon).
'Prayer does not mean that I am to bring God down to my thoughts and my purposes, and bend His government according to my foolish, silly, and sometimes sinful notions. Prayer means that I am to be raised up into feeling, into union and design with Him; that I am to enter into His counsel and carry out His purpose fully' (D.L. Moody).