Luke 18:19
New International Version (NIV)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone."
I am so guilty of considering myself as a good person...better than many...better than I used to be...I could be worse. Yet Jesus did not have these opinions of himself, so why should I? I want people to look at me and see me as a good person; someone they respect, admire, trust, enjoy, and want to be around. I want to project myself as "good".
This high opinion of myself is evident in my prayer life. I approach God with gratitude for how he has blessed me and made me a better person and then I proceed to tell God how he can be a "good god" by doing good things like healing, forgiving, supplying, helping, and fixing. I petition God in prayer as if Love, Goodness, Righteousness, Mercy, and Grace were not His Nature. God, by His nature Loves beyond measure, Forgives Mercifully and Graciously, Heals perfectly, and Supplies in abundance. In prayer, I am asking God to be who He already is.
I need to remember and go to God in prayer in the full realization of His Goodness. By His Spirit leading me in prayer, my petitions will become praises and His nature will become my own. I will want what He wants. I will see the healing that glorifies Him. I will be thankful for the abundance of His supply. I will receive the forgiveness that he so graciously offers. I will love as he loves; loving people who seem unlovable and those who have hurt me. I will be joyful, generous, patient, kind, peace loving, faithful, gentle, and have self-control (reject temptation). (Galatians 5: 22-23...Fruit of the Spirit)
As I grow closer to God through prayer...seeking and desiring to be more Like Christ...I will want people to see His nature and not my own when they look at me. That is what Jesus showed the world when He came and died and that is what He has entrusted to us, His followers and believers.
I am so guilty of considering myself as a good person...better than many...better than I used to be...I could be worse. Yet Jesus did not have these opinions of himself, so why should I? I want people to look at me and see me as a good person; someone they respect, admire, trust, enjoy, and want to be around. I want to project myself as "good".
This high opinion of myself is evident in my prayer life. I approach God with gratitude for how he has blessed me and made me a better person and then I proceed to tell God how he can be a "good god" by doing good things like healing, forgiving, supplying, helping, and fixing. I petition God in prayer as if Love, Goodness, Righteousness, Mercy, and Grace were not His Nature. God, by His nature Loves beyond measure, Forgives Mercifully and Graciously, Heals perfectly, and Supplies in abundance. In prayer, I am asking God to be who He already is.
I need to remember and go to God in prayer in the full realization of His Goodness. By His Spirit leading me in prayer, my petitions will become praises and His nature will become my own. I will want what He wants. I will see the healing that glorifies Him. I will be thankful for the abundance of His supply. I will receive the forgiveness that he so graciously offers. I will love as he loves; loving people who seem unlovable and those who have hurt me. I will be joyful, generous, patient, kind, peace loving, faithful, gentle, and have self-control (reject temptation). (Galatians 5: 22-23...Fruit of the Spirit)
As I grow closer to God through prayer...seeking and desiring to be more Like Christ...I will want people to see His nature and not my own when they look at me. That is what Jesus showed the world when He came and died and that is what He has entrusted to us, His followers and believers.
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