Which way do you pray?

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:9‭-‬14 ESV

I like this reminder from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel:
"If we compare ourselves with others, we may become like the Pharisee, thanking God that we are not like other people – ‘robbers, evildoers, adulterers’ (Luke 18.11). The Pharisee was ‘confident of his own righteousness’ (v.9)." 

But, if we stay focused on God, and if in fact "our lives are truly God-centred (our consciences quickened by his holiness), we will compare ourselves only with Him and all we can say is, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner’ (Luke 18v.13).  The truth is that we are all sinners, and we are all in need of God’s mercy."

Nicky and Pippa Gumbel sum it up that we all, all too often, "find it very easy to read this passage and to thank God that we are not like the Pharisee. But by doing so I fall into the very trap that Jesus is describing."

Isn't it scary and humbling how quickly we can fall into the wrong thought and prayer life – "thinking I am more righteous than others," not at all realizing and "recognizing my own sin and my own desperate need for the Savior."

So, how do you pray?  Do you pray exactly like the Pharisee. Or, do you pray: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

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Quotes taken from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel , Bible in One Year 2016.
Gospel of Luke, ESV Version