READING: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16:1-18:30
“God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
Luke 18:13
I wonder what my prayers reveal about my heart. I do not usually think about that question, but today’s reading in the Gospel of Luke takes me in that direction.
Jesus was speaking about people who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else” (Luke 18:9), and He used the illustration of two men praying to make His point. The first man, a religious leader/Pharisee, thanked God that he was better than others. He made it clear that he fasted twice a week and tithed of his wealth. Another man, a hated tax collector, “would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13). It was the latter man that Jesus said went home justified.
Again, the point of the story is to show the foolishness of trusting in one’s righteousness, but Jesus nevertheless painted the picture in light of prayer. The men revealed their hearts by the way they prayed. Thus, I wonder today if my prayer shows things like a heart more focused on myself or on others, a heart broken over lostness, and a heart committed to interceding for our church staff. I want my heart to reflect the heart of Jesus.
ACTION STEPS:
- Evaluate the focus of your praying.
- Focus your prayers today on others.
PRAYER: “Father, turn my heart to You above all things. Let that focus be heard in my prayers.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-19:2