The Attitude of Prayer

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus:

‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,

‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

In a sense prayer is all about attitude. Having a self righteous attitude often shows up in our prayers.. often a bit more subtle than the Pharisees prayer above. When I compare some of my prayers to the one the tax-collector offered above I think that my prayers are often filled with pride.

God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

Amen

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