St. Nicolai Notes

Prayer for October 23-29, 2016 

Sermon Text: (Luke 18:9-14)

That we will lay aside every strategy for justifying ourselves

Justifying God – we have become so practiced at rationalizing our decisions and justifying ourselves that we are often barely aware of our need for You.  We look around at the world and see that many others need You and that the world at large is in need of a whole scale intervention by You, but we cannot see our own need for You. We convince ourselves that we are fine. We convince ourselves that we are holy and that we already have it made in this life and in the life to come.

But your word has a way of piercing our heart and mind and turning our rationalizations and justifications to dust. Your word has a way of illuminating our failures, and our rebellion, with such clarity that we do not see only because we have stubbornly chosen to remain blind.

Enable us to see in great clarity our daily need for you. Enable us to lay aside every strategy for justifying ourselves before others and before You.  

Forgive us for our arrogance! Transform us in every way that You see is necessary. Amen.