Prayer from the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

Father, I see myself in the Pharisee from Luke 18. He did not pray badly because he lied. He prayed badly because he looked sideways. He counted his good deeds while glancing at the tax collector in the back.

That is how my prayers go wrong. I do not have to be a fraud to be proud. I only have to look at someone worse off and feel glad I am not them.

But the tax collector did not even lift his eyes. He had no one to compare himself to. He just said, "God, have mercy on me."

Help me to pray with my face down. Take out of my prayers the quiet "at least I am not like so-and-so." Replace it with the plain "have mercy."

The tax collector went home right with God. The Pharisee went home tall and empty.

Lower me, Father. I would rather be small and clean than tall and far from You.

Amen.