Prayers against a Hedonistic Culture: The Sneaky Sin of Pride

Jul 13

“Prayers against a Hedonistic Culture” are petitions for those trying to be salt, leaven, and light in the world when clearly pleasure, consumption, and antagonism, are encouraged and rewarded.

Heavenly Father, You have seen your fair share of rebellion, sedition, and usurpation. You have looked into the eyes of Disdain and Murder, and many other sons of the sneaky sin of Pride.

As you know, Pride creeps into our lives with an enforced vote of confidence. It slithers undetected in times of defense. It rattles our souls with simple words like “I can actually do this.” “I don’t need them.”

It attacks the heart first. Then it commandeers the legs, and snatches the hands. Only later does it puff up the brain. It always ends in a conflagration of our sense of security in You.

Glue our wills back together. Do not let us whisper in our chest, “I don’t need you.” Repair the ruins of caritas and amor. Make our feelings latch onto our duties. Restore reason to its throne and do not let passion take the throne.

Master, teach us to not ascend too many rungs of the ladder. Lead us to the right height you designed for us. Brother, Washer of Feet, wipe the dirt from our feet where they never should have tread.

Mediator—help us to learn and appreciate our station. To know what it means to be sent low without the expectation of elevation. To know dust, remember worms, yet ready to judge angels.

Comforter and Counselor, you are third down in the line of divine procession. You waited your turn. You know how to work behind the scenes in the meantime. You’re always around, but you never force attention.

Help us to learn our place in our world and give us patience to hold it. To not complain if we are third in line. To not even try to be the ultimate fixerupper or Savior of the world.

Triune God, impute into us an appreciation of hierarchy and sovereignty and a trust in Your absolute competency and good will. When we lose a job. When we get overlooked. When we make egregious errors. When we can’t hack it.

May we not react like Lucifer. May we not seek to become like gods through disobedience, but find ourselves in You, the triune God, through the obedience of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Every day may we get a little more accustomed to shaved heads, draping sackcloths, and feeling dirt on our skin. May the thorns and thistles constantly remind us that our suffering is warranted but only temporary.

May we be a witness to others who ask: Why aren’t you cheating? Why don’t you go for that position? Don’t you know you could do better? Why are you okay with not being first?

Grant us fortitude to show others the way of humility. May we come under You, give our lives to You, and pull others into You. Bring us to lower heights so that Your name might be raised to greater heights.