Posted on 03/07/2026 1:14:22 AM PST by metmom
"I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed" (Dan. 9:4). God will not respond to self-righteous prayers.
In Luke 18 Jesus told a parable to people who were trusting in their own self-righteousness. He said, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'
"But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'
"I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted" (vv. 10-14).
Apart from God's mercy we cannot enter into God's presence. The tax-gatherer knew that and pled for forgiveness. The Pharisee missed the point and went away without forgiveness.
Like the tax-gatherer, Daniel approached God with an attitude of confession and self-denial. He could have reminded God of his years of faithful service while in Babylon, but that didn't enter his mind. He knew that in himself there was nothing to commend him to God. His only thought was for mercy for himself and his people, that God's purposes could be realized through them.
As a Christian, you have the wonderful privilege of boldly entering into God's presence "with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22). That privilege is rooted in God's grace through Christ's sacrifice and leaves no room for presumption or self-righteousness. Always guard your attitude in prayer so that you don't unwittingly slip into a Pharisaic mentality.
Suggestions for Prayer
-Memorize Psalm 117:1-118:1 and recite it often as a hymn of praise to the Lord.
For Further Study
-Jesus had much to say about the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees of His day. Read Matthew 23, noting His scathing denunciations of their hypocritical attitudes and practices.
Studying God’s Word ping
117 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.
118 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
“Apart from God’s mercy we cannot enter into God’s presence”
And say it again and again until you memorize it.
I can’t tell you how many Christians tell me they must “Do Something else” other than receive forgiveness from Christ by believing on His Once and For All Sacrifice on the Cross and that He Rose from the Dead.
..............................................
Romans 10:9-13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Mean while, around the world...
I can’t tell you how many people are convinced that they must “Do Something else” other than receive forgiveness from Christ.
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