Humility in Prayer
Pride is idolatry of self. Spurgeon called it the “worst malformation of all the monstrous things in creation; it hath nothing lovely in it, nothing in proportion, but everything in disorder. It is altogether the very reverse of the creatures which God hath made, which are pure and holy. Pride, the first-born son of hell, is indeed like its parent, all unclean and vile, and in it there is neither form, fashion, nor comeliness.”
Humility, on the other hand, is of all graces most to be treasured and embraced. It ought to be lived in our communication, our dress, our thoughts, our doctrine, and in our prayer.
A child of God would never assert that he could do ought to merit righteousness, perhaps never think it; but the ongoing inability every Christian has in being continually and entirely heart-broken by God’s glorious grace to him or her is evidence enough of the pride still remaining within the heart.
Pride is a brainlessly ignorant thing, an entirely dishonest thing, a malignantly selfish thing, but above all, it is a most deceitfully adaptive thing.
Pride sometimes takes its shape in doctrine; it teaches the religion of man’s-sufficiency; it tells us what man can do, and will not submit itself to the scriptural teaching that we are by nature utterly lost, fallen, debased, and ruined creatures, as we are.
Other times, pride takes the form of prayer, petition, praise, even repentance, but all tainted with the stigma of self-righteousness. Men will “thank God” that they are not like other men, thinking themselves humble, never knowing that the deceitfulness of pride prompts them to pray.
Here are two prayers, the prayer of pride (penned by Spurgeon), and the prayer of humility. Read these prayers prayerfully and ask yourself whom you glorify in your thought, actions, words, in your prayer, and in your theology.
|
The Prayer of Pride Lord, I was born with a glorious free-will; I was born with power by which I can turn to thee of myself; I have improved my grace. If everybody had done the same with their grace that I have, they might all have been saved. Lord, I know thou dost not make us willing if we are not willing ourselves. Thou givest grace to everybody; some do not improve it, but I do. There are many that will go to hell as much bought with the blood of Christ as I was; they had as much of the Holy Ghost given to them; they had as good a chance, and were as much blessed as I am. It was not thy grace that made us to differ; I know it did a great deal, still I turned the point; I made use of what was given me, and others did not—that is the difference between me and them. I trust that my choice combined with God’s grace will save me. |
The Prayer of Humility Lord, I confess that I am by nature a sinner, inclined only to evil. In Adam I sinned and died, becoming enslaved to my depravity and unable to do the slightest thing pleasing to a Holy God. Could I do all that you demand, I would yet be but an unprofitable servant. But You have graciously and freely chosen to love me and send Your Son to purchase my redemption. Christ suffered Your wrath as my substitute, satisfying the exact demands of Your justice. By Grace, the Spirit of Christ hath worked in me both to will and to do, causing me to believe, and ever sustaining His Grace in my heart. You cause me to differ, You are the difference between me and them; apart from Your grace I am nothing. I plead the blood of Christ. I have naught else to offer. I trust that Your Grace alone will save me. |
September 14th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Wow! That sure puts things into perspective. May I always realize my insufficiency and see only God’s amazing love and mercy!