Approaching God With Humility

Our teachers, our books, our shows, our podcasts, our peers – all want us to believe we are basically good. God’s assessment of the human heart is not so naïve! So Jesus gives us a daily prayer that says ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’.

We come in humility, day by day, to God in prayer. We confess our sins knowing Jesus has dealt with them – fully and effectively. We express a willingness to forgive others, and pray for help not to repeat the same errors: ‘lead us not into temptation’. There is a realism about the spiritual battle of the heart we’re in. ‘Deliver us from evil’ we also pray. Deliver us from the Evil One who deceived Eve; who corrupted Noah’s contemporaries; who still prowls around looking for someone to devour.

So let me ask you...are you praying like this day by day? Are you confessing your sins? Have you got a healthy pattern of humble dependence on God built into your daily routine?

I think we can easily fall into a pattern of praying here and there: praying in the shower, the car, at meals – or when we’re stuck with something and needing help – but not having a time set aside to really pray; to give God the priority we should.

If we take on the Bible’s view of our hearts – total depravity – we need more than God as a casual acquaintance; an occasional thought in the busyness. How will that help us fight sin?

Sure, something is better than nothing…but can I challenge you to build a proper prayer time into your day – including confession? Don’t underestimate how twisted your heart is. Pray daily. Confess. Learn humility before God.

Be assured that Christ delights to hear and answer our prayer. In the words of late pastor Tim Keller: “we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

The article above is an excerpt from last Sunday’s sermon. To listen to the whole sermon on Noah and the flood, please click here.

Grace and peace,
Mark