Two men went. . .to pray. . . .The Pharisee stood and was praying this. . . .‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. . . .’ 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!’ Luke 18:11, 12 NIV

Prayer. What is prayer? For people of faith, prayer is the game changer, the life-blood, the MO, the power, the way in which we request God’s attention to gain audience with him. God tells us to pray and that our prayers are of value to him and that he answers our prayers. We would not get far without prayer nor would we want to. Do you believe in miracles? Prayer is asking God for miracles in the everyday and the wished-for. It is activated through faith that views prayer as a gateway to heaven, God, by means of supplication. We pray individually and collectively. A crisis unites the people in prayer. During this drought in California, we have united in prayer as a petition to God for His answering grace to provide for our State’s need of rain. We expect God to respond. It would be a wasted effort if we didn’t actually believe in the God to Whom we are speaking.

There are prayers and then there is praying. Scripted prayers are formal in nature. Simple ordinary prayers are spoken in random phrases. Not all prayers are alike. What does God look for when we pray to him? How are our prayers received? We get a glimpse into the heart of the matter in the passage of the pharisee and tax collector (publican). The pharisee prayed a prayer filled with pious words and self-congratulation on his whiteness and purity of behavior. The penitent tax collector, on the other hand, spoke from a humble and contrite attitude, fully aware of his unworthy state. Both men spoke from their hearts. Their words fully expose the truth found within their souls. One person’s prayer was a show for the benefit of the onlookers, a prideful display of religiosity. The other person’s prayer was sincere said in repentance, meant for God alone. Each person’s motivation becomes obvious. It makes me think of my own heart. I can fluctuate in either direction. My heart’s true condition is revealed through my prayers.

The pharisee spoke from an attitude of pride or arrogance. Self-righteous glorying is a falsity, a show of religion, and, in reality, just empty words and vain glory.

The tax collector’s heart reveals a different sort of attitude. He is truthfully honest about his failures, admitting his shame, taking ownership of the true state of affairs within himself. He speaks out of his brokenness. He is in need of God’s mercy.

In Christendom, we find traces of both types of prayers and many in between. Some prayers are requests. Others are desires. A few are worshipful. Most have an expectant factor. When God pulls off a miracle, we respond with our gratefulness. Praises in worship are prayers that honor God from a heart of thankfulness. There is another kind of prayer that originates from deep inside. This prayer is voiced more as a plea for help than as a worshipful interlude.  Desperate and despairing people pray with great passion during times of suffering and sorrow. Pretense is left behind. A person in crisis will knock on heaven’s door and stand there in expectant waiting. God becomes especially real during the difficulty. All the external conditions of life mean little as we pour our heart and soul out to God, seeking him to meet us during the crisis of faith.

I have experienced God’s tender graces during heart-wrenching times. It is when I pray my most sincere prayers as I seek God for hope, help, and answers. “God be merciful to me, the sinner,” is asking God to extend grace even though it is undeserved. That is honest talk. Prayer, when it is that way, is stripped away of all fluff and pontificating. It is raw, open, contrite, pleasing to the heart of God. The Scripture passage says that the tax collector went away justified. God listened to his prayer and acted in response to his plea. It was a miracle of grace. Prayers of a humble person seek audience with God, and, in so doing, touch the heart of God.

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N. L. Brumbaugh, with a thought for the day
THE MEETING PLACE  by N. L. BRUMBAUGH

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