Sermon Central
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Pray Humbly
Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Oct 21, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: if we pray with an open heart, it will be heard and we will be forgiven
God, be merciful to me, a sinner (Luke 18:13)
And again,
Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)
And again,
God, be merciful to me, a sinner (Luke 18:13)
He may have repeated this prayer again and again, even listing those sins he had committed.
And his prayer was answered by God.
If we pray like the Pharisee, because it is our duty or to be seen as righteous, our prayers fall on deaf ears. They will be rejected because they lack the humbleness to realize we need the mercy of God.
When we confess our sins with a completely open heart, God hears these and is reconciled to us. God favors those who ask for mercy rather than those who expect it because they have ‘earned’ it. He accepts those seeking mercy and forgiveness into communion with Him, as part of His kingdom. The greater the sin, the greater the repentance and the greater the mercy.
When we come before God in prayer, remember we are there to ask for mercy and forgiveness, not praise God that we are so righteous and deserving. Rely on that mercy of God and our prayers will be answered.
Our Heavenly Father promises that when we turn our thoughts to Him, when we return to Him, He will have mercy on us. That is the promise that touched the sorrow-filled heart of a despised tax collector and led him to crying out,
Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)
And he was not turned away. His request was answered.
Amen.
Delivered at In The Garden, Trinity Episcopal Church On Capitol Square, Columbus, OH; October 27, 2013
