I had no idea I was in so much pride. As my airplane took off and I headed to our Florida campus, I began to pray over St. Louis.

I prayed that it is a STRONG city (from Isaiah 26), that corporate headquarters and businesses are attracted to our city, that strong and wise leadership is raised up in the city and county. As we flew low over the ghetto areas, I prayed that hearts are healed, violence ceases, and land is restored to its former glory.

Then I heard in my heart…“if they will HUMBLE themselves and PRAY…I will hear from heaven and HEAL their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

I KNOW this verse, but then it HIT me.

Like A Punch In The Gut
You have to be humble to pray.

That really caught me off guard and I actually TEARED UP in the airplane.

Those times when I THINK I have life under control….I just keep walking and don’t pray like I should.

Those times when some things hurts a little, like a headache or a sore muscle…I rest in MY strength and power through it, WITHOUT prayer.

Those times when life is great and I sit back, smile and enjoy the peace or the good time, without a prayer to THANK God for the blessing.

But I Pray!
I do! I pray every day! BUT not like I should. Not like someone who discovers they have an urgent dire need or a crippling diagnosis.

It was when I THOUGHT about how we cry out to God in prayer in times of extreme need that I realized that it is then that we truly HUMBLE our hearts.

Honestly humble to pray about EVERYTHING. Pray without ceasing. Pray in thankfulness for EVERY piece of good news.

God Forgive Me
I ask God’s forgiveness about being in more PRIDE than I even had a clue I was walking in. Pride – the opposite of humility. Shown by not humbling ourselves and praying about EVERY decision, need or blessing.

If this is YOU TOO, join me in this prayer…

Prayer For Today
God, Thank you for being so patient and loving with us as we learn how to walk in your will, more and more. We humble ourselves before you and ask your forgiveness for not praying more. We ask you to heal our bodies, our families, our finances, our cities and our nation. In Jesus name.