Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "A Humble Prayer" for Monday, 2 June 2014 - Read Luke 18:9-14

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "A Humble Prayer" for Monday, 2 June 2014 - Read Luke 18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.(James 5:16 (CEB))
Before retiring, I served on the pastoral staff of Wesley Mission in Sydney, Australia. It is centrally located on one of the city’s main streets, not far from two underground railway stations and several city bus routes. Many people with special needs meet at the mission and find it to be a place of care. In one of several congregations for which I was responsible, almost half of the members were living with mental illness, a number of them with schizophrenia. After one of our weekly lunch-hour services, I saw two men patiently waiting for me in the glass-walled church. I went over and sat with them. “We would like you to pray with us,” they said. As soon as I had prayed, one of the men prayed, “God, save us from doing anything to harm ourselves or anyone else.” Twelve years later, I am still deeply moved by his prayer. I am blessed by his deep cry for God’s help and by the prayer’s sincerity, simplicity, humility, and trust.
The Author: Bruce Noble (New South Wales, Australia)
Thought for the Day: The prayers of humble people have the power to change us.
Prayer: O God, move us all with a deeper caring for people who are living with mental illness. May our actions reflect our concern and our lives reflect your love. Amen.

Prayer focus: People living with mental illness
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