Perceived Prayer Problems

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 

Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Reread verse 9, pay attention to the writing, the words of Luke. He is talking of Christ who knew the heart of those He was talking to. Christ knew the audience He was addressing with these words.

Have you ever noticed that the Pharisee merely listed his own accomplishments, his own status, his own righteousness? How thankful he was that he was not as other men. Yet in his very "prayer" he gives away that he is just as other men, focused not on God but on himself and the people who are watching/listening.

So many people are afraid of praying in public for this very reason. Yet Christ does not bring up the man for praying in public, He brings up the man for the "me,me,me," of the prayer.

When He brings up the publican, the publican is praying in public. So it is not the praying in public that is the issue, yet that is what so many take away from this passage. It is all about the content and intent of  the prayer, the heart behind the prayer that is the reason this man went away justified. 

It is the content, it is the state of the heart, it is the attitude that makes this passage so imperative.

The Pharisee only cared for those men that heard him, the publican cared only for the God He was praying to.

Jesus called to attention the heart condition of the two men.

This is the intent and meaning behind the parable, not praying in public. Christ often prayed in public, He often led in prayer, He intended for prayer to happen as a group. At no point did He suggest we should not pray in public. Nor should we be afraid or even cognizant of what people think of us when we lead in prayer, For all should be praying at that time, in concert.

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 

Christ, in the very wording He uses, assumes you have a prayer life "when thou prayest". He wants you to pray, He wants you to pray with others. He led in prayer many times, in fact He prayed so much His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, He led by example, but what good is that example if we fail to recognize and follow?

He is warning against the praying as a means of preening, showing off your vocabulary, what we call "prayers that do not make it above the ceiling" hot air, meaningless monologues.

When you pray, remember the magnitude of what you are doing, that you are talking to the Creator of the Universe, the God who gave you salvation through His Death on the cross. The attitude of humility, the thought that very God wants me, ME to talk to Him. If that doesn't keep your heart humble nothing will.

When you pray in public remember there are those listening who might actually be learning from you, emulating you, getting over their fear by seeing/hearing you pray. If they never see/hear you pray, those that look up to you may put no emphasis or effort into their prayer life. Every action, or inaction, is so very important as you know not who is watching, learning from you.

If prayer becomes important to you, it will affect and impact others.

If you use every excuse to not pray so shall they. 

Any perceived prayer problems you have will become the prayer problems of others. 

God doesn't care about the words, He cares for the heart behind the supplication, the thanksgiving and the praise. The Holy Spirit will intercede for you when you do not have the words. When we pray the Spirit prays with us and makes interceding prayers for us.

Rom_8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Prayer is essential, it is necessary for a right relationship with God. 

If you have a perceived prayer problem, pray that God gives you the wisdom to resolve it that you might have a more effective prayer life.