There are very few people who do not pray.  Most people in the world accept that there is a God who is greater than them and that prayer is a normal activity.  Jesus deliberately takes two contrasting characters in His parable.  The point of the parable is not about prayer itself, but about the attitude that people have - whether in their hearts they place themselves first or God first.

People pray for many different reasons.  Some to get God to help them or to meet their needs; others simply to cry out in joy or anguish; and yet others to try to convince God how good they are, like the Pharisee in this story.  On the other hand, the tax collector, who had no public reputation to maintain, was content to ask for mercy.  Both of them went to the house of God.  Both of them prayed.  But only one satisfied God's criterion for real prayer.

Prayer is very important, but do not be fooled into thinking that praying will automatically make anyone holy.  Neither should we assume that because we are praying with others, we automatically have fellowship with them.  Nor should we be embarrassed at our stumbling attempts to pray when we hear others speaking to God more eloquently.  As we come to address our God, we come to the One who knows all about us, who knows our motives as well as our words, and longs for us to be real with Him.

It is that connection between our heart's desire and what we express which the Lord is looking for.  He knows if our words are different from our hearts; but He delights to hear what we really believe, think and feel from hearts which are devoted and submissive to Him.  As 1 Samuel 2:3 says, "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed."  It is time to be honest about our praying.  All the Lord wants is for us to pour out our hearts to Him, and He will take action.