Prayer 97: For His Glory!

Gracious Father, we praise your Holy Name. For from you and through you and for you are all things. To you be the glory forever!
We know that everything about us should be about your glory and building your kingdom. But there is lust and pride at work in us. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, and it is not from you, Father, but is from the world. We confess our flesh is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
Oh, precious Father, this insidious lust and pride is without boundaries. Rather than focusing on utter dependence upon Christ and overflowing as a godly kingdom builder, we are capable of hijacking anything, even those things meant for your glory, Lord Jesus, and making them about our kingdom for our glory. Father, forgive us! Help!
We see this as we try to win the approval of men or try to please people rather than Christ. We see it when we are jealous of other leaders or envious of their spiritual impact. We see it when we quietly rejoice when others struggle or fall. We see it when we need personal adoration or credit when serving or teaching. We see it when we feel competitive with others and their kingdom endeavors. We see it when we get down on ourselves when others demonstrate giftedness or success. We see it when we pride ourselves on minor theological differences or denominational pride. We see it when we are unable to participate with others in their kingdom building ideas. We see it when our identity is caught up in our success or failure. We see it when we are overly sensitive to others’ critiques. We see it when we are an opportunist when others are struggling. We see it when we are hardheaded and unteachable. Oh, the tragedy of such self-centeredness, even to the point of competing for your glory, Christ Jesus.
We are reminded of a parable you shared. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Lord Jesus, supernaturally turn our pride to humility, our fleshly confidence to brokenness, our shameless self-promotion to a contrite spirit, and self-reliance to utter dependence in Christ alone. We ask that we praise you, Lord Jesus, with all our heart. May your holy name be glorified forever in and through our lives!
In Christ,
Blessings!

Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Galatians 1:10
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Galatians 5:16-17
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Psalm 86:12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name.