Luke 18:9-14 KJV
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Prayer is not about lording over your opponent it being equal to an opponent, your opponent is the rest of the world that one needs to pray for but recognize your equality with the world(sinner). The Pharisee as he prayed was making himself equal with God and not the ones that he was saying he was not like. He was telling God he was not like those other people as far as sin. He kept all the commandments and so forth. As prayed he continued to exalt himself over the sinners of the world. Even boast on how often he prayed. The publican stood afar off and said he as sinner and asked for mercy. He did not even brag on the type of sin, but classified himself a sinner. These men went home and Jesus said the man that exalted himself will be abased and he that humbled himself will be exalted.

In our world there are people that know they sin and keep sinning, and their those that cry to God for mercy. Then there ones that sin and laugh and tell God they not like everyone else. I will admit my sin, but I will also tell you it between God and me unless it is between the laws of man whether society or legal law. Meaning some sin has to be treated with repayment an other by the legal law. Sin against God and sin in general must be taken to the cross of Jesus. "We all sin fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3) If we confess our sin God is faithful to forgive us our sin. Our need of Christ is to need not only to confess our sin, but the need of God's word(meaning Jesus) in our life. It is easy to think we need not God, but God is the very reason we live and breath. God created us and all that is in our world by his hands. There things created in our world not of God. There things man put together he knew how they went together but never planned them to go together like nuclear bomb or atomic bomb.

We confess before God humbly we are a sinner that is not all, we need to ask him to forgive us when we sin. We need to ask Jesus to come into our heart to teach our own soul how to live for him. Jesus living in our hearts to enable us to live for him and not to sin in opposition to the ways of God. One is not to be lord of God heritage but demonstrate love as a simple servant of God and a follower of Jesus. You might not be the shepherd(pastor) over God's heritage(I Peter) but you still example to other who want to be christians. Thus you have title as shepherd as one helping to guide the flock to the Chief shepherd Jesus, the Son of God. God being Chief as well equal to his Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Heavenly Father, we confess we are sinner, saved by your grace and nothing we do ourselves. We ask Jesus to come in to our hearts teaching us your word and your hope by your Spirit. That your word will transform us into your children. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 John 1:9-10 KJV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Peter 5:1-11 KJV
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.