Prayer for when you think too highly of yourself
Written by Sophia Bricker
Bible reading:
“To those who were so confident in their own righteousness that they looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood alone and prayed. “I thank you, God, that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, and even less like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tithe of what I earn.” But the tax collector was standing a little distance away. Without even looking up to heaven, he patted his chest and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I tell you, this man went home justified before God, not others. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14, NIV).
Listen or read below:
Soaring ceilings, intricate stained glass windows, and Gothic architecture provide the backdrop for key scenes from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Esmeralda, a chased Romani girl, receives protection from the church and is able to temporarily escape from Frollo’s intentions. But instead of pleading with God for her own wishes, she begins to pray for her people, the despised outcasts of the city.
Her words in the song “God Help the Outcasts” contrast with the words of other church attendees. As she takes refuge in a church and prays for the oppressed, the free people of the city make selfish demands. They want more wealth and more fame. And Frollo, who is supposed to be a man of God, stands with desire swirling in his heart and declares that he is grateful that he is more righteous than those around him.
Humble prayer is in contrast to the words of arrogant hypocrites. Sound familiar?
A similar contrast can be seen in today’s passage. This tax collector already had a bad reputation. As other passages in the Gospels show, people in this profession were lumped together with “sinners” and perceived as morally depraved (Matthew 9:10-11). Remarkably, however, many of these people became faithful followers of Jesus, including Levi (Matthew) and Zacchaeus (Mark 2:13-14 and Luke 19:1-10). The Lord probably had these people in mind when He told this parable.
Through his actions, this tax collector was acutely aware of his need for grace. He had no intention of approaching God’s presence, but this shows that he knew that he was already spiritually far from God. And he stood with his head bowed as a sign of humility. It was a very simple prayer, but it was filled with faith.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, perceived themselves as superior to others. Jesus said that this man “was standing alone,” indicating that he was speaking to himself and not to God (Luke 18:11). He needed grace as much as the tax collector, but his pride blinded him to that need. As a result, he moved further away from salvation and sinned due to his self-righteous attitude.
The Bible warns us against pride. The apostle Paul later wrote in his letter to the Romans: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you should, but consider yourselves with sober judgment, according to the faith which God has given to each one of you” (Romans 12:3, NIV). When we are tempted to follow in the footsteps of Frollo and the Pharisees in the parables, we should remember the price Jesus paid for our costly sins. We are all guilty in God’s eyes, and no one is free from the stain of sin (Romans 3:10-12).
We are blessed when we recognize our own dirty hands and take the low road instead of blaming others. And in that place of hurt, our Savior meets us, lifts up his downcast head, and covers the traces of our sin with his clawed hands.
Let’s pray:
Holy God, you see all things and know all things. Even if I close myself off to others and turn away from myself, you still see every thought going through my head. So all the arrogant thoughts that invade my mind and take root are visible to you. Please forgive me for being proud of my religious practices and church affiliation. Remove from my heart and mind the growth of sin that tempts me to look down on others.
Whenever I want to sit on the judgment seat, may I remember when I fell from on high and that by your grace I am only a child of God. I hereby lay down my pride before You and ask: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/dusanpetkovic
Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotions, and stories. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Christian Ministry, which included extensive study in the Bible and theology, as well as a master’s degree in creative writing. You can read her thoughts on literature and faith in The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack. You can also visit Cultivate, a disciple-based site she writes with her sister.
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There is a certain type of fatigue that has nothing to do with how much sleep you got last night. It’s the feeling of fatigue that settles in the soul when you’ve been trying hard for a long time. Prayer feels empty, worship feels far away, and you find yourself sitting in church thinking about everything but what is being said. If you’re in that position tonight, this episode was written for you. If you like what you hear, follow Your Nightly Prayer on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
