Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 30

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:1-17

Today's reading grants us a certain worldview that Jesus gives his followers.  It is knowing our place in the universe in relation to God.

Children seem to get this better than adults.  They have nothing and they are dependent on others to provide for them.

Adults begin to believe that they are self-sufficient as per the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  The Pharisee might have been persistent in prayer, but he was doing it wrong!

If we continue to lift up to God our own prejudices in prayer like the Pharisee, do we remain stuck in our rut?  When the widow continually approaches the judge, she is seeking justice.  Since widows in that day were not usually rich, it is likely actual justice she is looking for rather than a perceived need for justice.

Lots of animals play
king of the hill.

But what if I continually pray with a sense of hierarchy?  

If you are churched, it is likely that you would consider yourself more spiritually aware than the unchurched.  This is logical because you do tend to your spiritual life on a regular basis - you are making a disciplined practice of it.  So, those of us who qualify - and I would guess that's anyone reading this blog - do we find ourselves occupying the chair of the Pharisee?

The irony is that the more spiritually disciplined we become, the more we should develop a worldview that God is lifting all of us up.  Becoming more adept at seeing God in the world means that we realize we are all in the same boat.  Isn't this what it means to receive the Kingdom of God as a little child?

Oh, I better pray some more...

Prayer of the day:

Lord, we would pray more often but we get caught up in the world.  Our daily affairs tend to grab our attention and not let us go.  Help us to take more moments to retreat with you during the day.  Give us perspective that heals our relationships.  May the way we carry ourselves around other people be a witness to you today.  In Christ, Amen.

Photo by dalvenjah via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons License.