February 25
The Prayer God Hears
Read: Luke 18:9–14
Devotion:
The word “narcissist” gets thrown around in our society quite a bit, often times when people fail to grasp its meaning. Narcissism is a state of mind, a quality of character, that contaminates functioning in human relationships. There are three components of character that make up a narcissist:
- An ongoing pattern of grandiosity (elevated view of self)
- A lack of empathy (inability to connect with or value others on an emotional level)
- An excessive need for admiration
Bound together, these components can lead a person to worldly success and power but relational and spiritual emptiness and destruction. A narcissist can never really experience genuine love because they can love no one but themselves.
In this text, we observe the prayer of the spiritual narcissist – a Pharisee who typifies the elite of Jewish culture. As he prays, he sees himself as better than “other men.” He steps over the suffering and the needy in order to bask in the light of his own awesomeness. He lists off his righteous acts for the sheer purpose of gaining the praise of human spectators (Matthew 6:1), but his prayers fall on the deaf ears of a Creator who refuses to listen to the worship of self (James 4:6).
Then we hear the prayer of the broken one, the tax collector who owns his own sin. He recognizes his unworthiness as he cautiously approaches the Eternal Throne. All he can do in the presence of Perfection is humbly ask for “mercy,” and he will get it because that’s the heart that God accepts (Psalm 34:18, 51:17).
Due to our sinful nature and the influence of the evil one, narcissism is our default setting (Romans 7:18). No one ever had to teach us to be selfish because we were born that way. We even fall into the trap of pathologically seeking affirmation from others rather than the approval of God. That is why true intimacy with our Lord and genuine communication with Him requires a humble heart. When we do so, modeling ourselves after the social reject who is the hero of this parable, the Lord will hear us and will lift us up (James 4:10). Let us pray the prayer that God hears so that His mercy can redeem our brokenness.
Reflect:
- In what ways does pride impact your fellowship and communion with God?
- How have you been seeking man’s admiration rather than God’s redemption?
- What would His mercy look like in your life today?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Creator of all things, embrace us as we surrender and submit to you. Forgive us for adopting the attitudes of our culture rather than adhering to the character of Christ. Give us Your mercy and Your grace to live lives that model the One who sets us free from sin and death.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.