06/09/2025
Are we too ashamed to speak to God, much less ask Him for something? Are we too embarrassed by our condition or too ashamed of our sin to reach out to Him for help? When should we bring our needs or our contrition before Him in prayer? When should we ask for forgiveness?
As I contemplate these questions it is plain to see that if I thought that I could only come to the Father when my troubles were light, or my sins few, I would never be able to kneel before Him. However, this is not His desire for our relationship.
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Luke 11:10 ESV
I remember occasions in my life when I was in some sort of quandary and needed help; I needed to speak with my earthly father about what was happening in my life, but at the same time... I felt embarrassed to do so. By revealing my problem I felt that I was admitting I had failed in some way, or that I was unable to handle my own affairs. Has this ever happened in your life? Have you felt alone because of your perceived inability to speak to a parent? Were you afraid they might think less of you, or deride you for your actions? If so, did you ever overcome your embarrassment? When at last you humbled yourself and came to them weren't you relieved, and even if your problem didn't go away, didn't you feel like a weight had been lifted from you? Being assured of their acceptance and love in the face of your failures is like a cool compress on a feverish forehead... it feels good and brings relief. God wants us to come to Him like that… always.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
Humbling ourselves and admitting our shortcomings and failures is the first step towards overcoming them. How can we gain forgiveness or defeat our abject poverty of body or spirit without first admitting them to the one who can help us with them? God is not surprised by our sins, He was there when we committed them, and He knows our needs, what He is waiting for is us to overcome the one thing that keeps us from Him... our pride.
We have the propensity to take pride in our accomplishments and even our own righteousness, but how can we possibly convince ourselves that anything we have hasn't been given to us by God? We eat because God provides, and we are Holy because of His grace and forgiveness. When we claim responsibility for the things in our lives, we are robbing God of the glory that should be His.
“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV
So, if we believe that all we have comes from God, and our ability to achieve righteousness is made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then what is there that keeps us from humbly bringing our needs and sins before the Lord? In what are we able to take pride? Satan deceives us into thinking we are great, and that we can steer our lives without the need for God, and isn't that what we are succumbing to when we feel that we can't, or that we don't need to, come before Him? Aren't we yielding to the temptation of pride and self-worth?
In all we are and all we do, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, we should seek God. In the high moments of our lives we should praise His provision, and in the low places we should praise His strength and forgiveness. In admitting our shortcomings and bowing in contrition, we are giving Him the glory for our lives, and removing our self-pride as a stumbling block before us.
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalms 55:22 ESV
So, let’s ask ourselves this question today, “Am I ever too far down to look up to Him?” or maybe it would be easier for us to ask it in this way… “Am I ever too lost or too much of a disappointment for God’s love and grace to cover me?”
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your provision and the very faith I now come to you with. I thank you for hearing my prayers and answering my many needs. Holy Father, never let my pride come between us; never let me think that my accomplishments or ability to walk in a righteous manner could be achieved without your guiding hand. Jesus suffered, not me, and Jesus was crucified, not me, and Jesus defeated sin and death, not me... Jesus was resurrected that I would one day be judged worthy and resurrected as well. There is no claim by me to these things, and it is only by them that I am worthy of your forgiveness, grace, and love. Most Gracious God I beg at your feet for those things in my life that lift me from my human condition. I seek your providing hand and the grace that lifts my faith towards holiness. Father, in my unworthiness I pray that you will find some glimmer of worth; in my sin and disgrace I pray you will forgive, and that, in this way your glory might abound. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God who waits patiently for me to fall to my knees and ask for your forgiveness of my sins and shortcomings. Holy are you who so loved the world that you sent your Son Jesus to live, suffer, take on its sin, die, and be resurrected that we would be saved. Holy are you whose grace knows no bounds and longs for me to come to you in heartfelt contrition and ask humbly for your mercy and forgiveness. Holy are you my God who forgives me and calls me your own. Praised be your name Abba, and we assign all honor and glory to you… now and forevermore.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-14 ESV
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:13-14 ESV
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Rich Forbes