Topical Bible: Prayer: Accompanied With: Self-Abasement

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Prayer, a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, is often accompanied by self-abasement, a posture of humility and repentance before God. This practice is deeply rooted in the biblical tradition, where individuals and communities approach God with a contrite heart, acknowledging their unworthiness and dependence on His grace and mercy.

Biblical Instances of Self-Abasement in Prayer:

1. Daniel's Prayer of Confession:
In the Book of Daniel, the prophet exemplifies self-abasement in his prayer for the people of Israel. Daniel approaches God with a heart full of humility, confessing the sins of his people and seeking God's mercy. He states, "We have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled; we have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances" (Daniel 9:5). Daniel's prayer is marked by fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, traditional symbols of self-abasement and repentance.

2. Ezra's Intercession:
Ezra, a priest and scribe, also demonstrates self-abasement in his prayer for the Israelites. Upon learning of the people's unfaithfulness, Ezra tears his garments, pulls hair from his head and beard, and sits appalled. He then falls on his knees, spreads out his hands to the LORD, and prays, "O my God, I am ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities have increased over our heads and our guilt has grown up to the heavens" (Ezra 9:6).

3. Nehemiah's Plea for Restoration:
Nehemiah, upon hearing of Jerusalem's desolation, turns to God in prayer and fasting. He confesses the sins of the Israelites, including his own family's transgressions, and pleads for God's favor. Nehemiah's prayer reflects a deep sense of self-abasement as he acknowledges, "We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses" (Nehemiah 1:7).

4. The Publican's Prayer:
In the New Testament, Jesus presents a parable contrasting the prayers of a Pharisee and a tax collector (publican). The publican, standing at a distance, would not even lift his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). This prayer of self-abasement is commended by Jesus, highlighting the importance of humility in approaching God.

Theological Significance:

Self-abasement in prayer is a recognition of God's holiness and the believer's sinfulness. It is an acknowledgment that, apart from God's grace, humanity stands condemned. This posture is not merely an outward expression but a genuine inward disposition that aligns with the biblical call to humility. James 4:10 exhorts believers, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."

Practical Application:

For contemporary believers, incorporating self-abasement into prayer involves a sincere examination of one's heart and life, confessing sins, and seeking God's forgiveness. It is a reminder of the need for ongoing repentance and the transformative power of God's grace. By approaching God with humility, believers open themselves to His refining work, drawing closer to Him and aligning their lives with His will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 18:27
And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken on me to speak to the LORD, which am but dust and ashes:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Relation 1. Sent to St. Peter of Alcantara in 1560 from the ...
... great that I cannot describe it, and accompanied with a ... as soon as she is in prayer,
and recollected ... great reverence for good people, and self-abasement; and I ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/relation 1 sent to st.htm

Letter xxxix. To Paula.
... Indeed, her self-abasement was so perfect that she dressed no ... the gate of paradise,
death is accompanied, not with ... daily to fasting, to reading, and to prayer. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xxxix to paula.htm

Daily Fellowship with God
... In prayer, or worship, everything depends upon God taking ... worthy to look up to God;
bow in self-abasement. ... request for fellowship with Him be accompanied by a ...
/.../murray/the deeper christian life/i daily fellowship with god.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1836 to the ...
... It led to self-examination, to self-abasement, humiliation, and ... effect in awakening
a spirit of prayer, of liberality ... in the summer of 1837, accompanied by two ...
/.../chapter 14 from the close.htm

The Twofold Testimony of John - the First Sabbath of Jesus's ...
... a blasphemy, from which, in utter self-abasement, he would ... The great festivities
which accompanied it were ... of Rabbis, [1700] rested for prayer, meditation, or ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iii the twofold testimony.htm

Modern Revivals.
... The Spirit of God accompanied the message of His ... Son of God, and this thought will
lead them to self-abasement. ... which passeth knowledge." But the prayer of the ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /27 modern revivals.htm

Modern Revivals
... The Spirit of God accompanied the message of His ... Son of God, and this thought will
lead them to self-abasement. ... which passeth knowledge." But the prayer of the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 27 modern revivals.htm

The Epistles of Paul.
... death of the cross; for which act of self-abasement he is ... to the public worship of
God"prayer, the costume ... He accompanied Paul and Barnabas to the so-called ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxx the epistles of.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... Thus Tobias says in his prayer to God, before having intercourse with his wife,
"And now, O Lord, Thou knowest that not in wantonness I take to wife my sister ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... under a full consciousness of our wants, we learn true humility and self-abasement. ...
Word, the breaking of the mystical bread, and public prayer; and, secondly ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm