Luke 18:9-14 Praying the Right Way
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: October 19, 2018 Luke 18:9-14
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
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.”
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) The audience of this parable was specifically those who trusted in themselves and believed that they were righteous and looked down on others with contempt. I used to tell my kids that “attitude is everything.” This is true also with God. Actions might speak stronger than words, but the attitude portrayed in the actions either condemns or pardons. In trusting in one’s own righteousness, a person closes the door to God’s Spirit. In acknowledging and turning away from one’s own sinful self, a person opens the door for the Spirit to come in and work in the person.
(Application) A religious person goes to church, pays tithe, fasts for religious purposes, shows gratitude to God, and prays, yet he is not good enough. A cheater and liar goes to church and confesses his sin in prayer to God, and is seen as worthy. This is a warning to me that I can start viewing the activities that God has called me to do as making me good and start viewing others as not as good as me because they do not live in the “right” way. I must remember that attitude is everything in church and out. If I judge my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am not being righteous; I’m being more sinful than them if they are asking God for forgiveness.
(Understanding the Text) Guzik’s commentary points out that in prayer we should focus on God rather than self. “Both men prayed, but both men did not come to God the same way. The Pharisee and his prayer were entirely self-centered; he prayed thus with himself, and in his short prayer he repeats I five times. i. It is entirely possible to address your words to God, but actually be praying to yourself, because your focus is on yourself, not on God. Your passion is for your agenda, not God’s. Your attitude is mine will be done not Thy will be done.” It’s okay to talk about yourself. Both men did that. Instead, the centering on self is the selfishness of the attitude. We come to God arrogantly believing that we know better than Him and that He should be thankful that we have chosen Him instead of with the attitude that we are thankful that He has chosen us and want to do whatever we can to please Him. Guzik also points out that it is easy to think too highly of yourself if you only compare yourself to other people. There will always be someone much worse than you even inside a church.
Love of self is the sin that never goes away. It is not that we should hate self, but rather we should not trust ourselves. Our only path to righteousness is through God. Our hearts are desperately wicked and deceitful. We lie to ourselves. Guzik’s commentary says “i. True humbleness is simply seeing things the way they are. The Pharisee saw himself as something great when he wasn’t, and the tax collector saw himself as a sinner needing God’s mercy, which he was. ii. We gain nothing by coming to God in the lie of pride. The principle God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble is so important God repeats it three times in the Scriptures (Pro_3:34, Jas_4:6, 1Pe_5:5).” I need to always remember that my attitude can break my witness for Jesus. In order to be useable, I need to repent and give my self and attitudes to Jesus.
(Prayer) Don’t ever let me get so full of myself that I become like the Pharisee praying to myself rather than You. Show me how to be humble and confident at the same time. Teach me how to see You leading me in everything I do.