I like watching the show What Not To Wear sometimes to see how transformed a person can be just by learning how not to dress. When you understand the don’ts, and get a grasp on the do’s, you can have some real success, even just in the way you dress. What is amazing is that along with knowing how to dress for your body type, and appropriately for each occasion, confidence builds. I have seen the same thing happen when people learn how to pray. Luke 18:9-11 actually talks about how not to pray. Let’s read it and get the picture.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
It sounds like a little bit of pride was going on, and a lot of self righteousness. So how are we not supposed to pray? With pride and self righteousness. Let’s do just the opposite. Let’s be humble and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. That is how we should pray!