Once, Jesus spoke of two men who went up to the temple to pray. One was very religious, and the other was a tax collector.

The religious man stood up and prayed with himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.”

This religious man prayed standing because he preferred the recognition of men over the recognition of God, who rewards those who seek him in secret.

Another important thing is that this religious man “prayed with himself.” He wasn’t praying to God but to his own personal ego. Undoubtedly, his vanity and contempt for others prevented his prayers from reaching the presence of God.

In contrast, the tax collector didn’t even want to lift his eyes to heaven; he recognized himself as a sinner and appealed to God’s mercy.

Jesus concluded this story saying: “I tell you that the tax collector went down to his house justified, rather than the religious man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Your past doesn’t matter; we can all approach God and ask for forgiveness. But if there is pride, arrogance, routine, and lack of sincerity, you might find yourself just “praying with yourself.”