A Wake-up Prayer
‘But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, “God, have pity on me, a sinner!” I tell you,’ said Jesus, ‘the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For all who make themselves great will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be made great.’
(verses 13,14)
Read Luke 18:9-14
To us who are often sure of our own goodness and quite able to despise everyone else for being weak, shameful and full of sin, Jesus gives a wake-up call. Indeed, he gives us a prayer which is more than a prayer. It is a constant confession of who we are and who we need to be: people of goodness and grace.
The prayer has been made famous by centuries of use. It is called, ‘The Jesus Prayer’. The humble in heart pray. ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner’. The prayer is prayed over and over in time with the beat of the heart, and it serves as a constant confession of our sin and a reminder that every heartbeat is dependent on the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, Lord of the living and the dead.
Pray the prayer today. It is in this confession and this reminder that Jesus raises us up to be co-rulers with him for all eternity.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner.
by Adrian Kitson in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)
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