Are You Prideful?

 

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

“No not me” you might say but what exactly is pride as it is classified as a bad thing in God’s Word. It could be excessive concern over others thinking you don’t qualify or aren’t good enough. Or excessive self esteem to the point of acting haughty.

Think of being too prideful to stoop down and help someone from another economic status than yourself. Pride can in fact lead to a fall.

You are never to toot your own horn or get in someone’s face but instead to seek ways to lift others up and bring glory to God.

PRAYER: Father God I need you each day to help keep me from acting like I too big for my britches. Help me to remember to reach out to others without wanting anything in return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Arrived? Not Yet!

 Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Every day I get up and I pray for God to keep me humble, use me, help me love and not hate, watch what I say, and to forget the past. It is an ongoing thing especially when there are hurts in life that human nature says to get even for. Dwelling on stuff does not get you closer to the Lord but instead just allows the enemy to drag you deeper into his pit. Jealousy,  anger, and hurt may still pop up, but I know the Lord loves me and will help me defeat the enemy at his tricks.

None of us have "arrived" so to speak. When you get to thinking you are pretty good and pretty holy, look out. None of us is perfect and each of us are a work in progress. Remember in Romans 3:23 it says "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Keep looking to Jesus for it is only through Him that we eventually arrive.

PRAYER: I know I am not where I need to be but am thankful for the progress I make daily to be drawn closer to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL

This became literal for me in a "action word picture" on my recent
annual snow ski trip. It was one of the times I had been doing my best
skiing. No, I am no where near a Black Diamond level skier, but I
started to master my turns and control. I happened to be in a "Perfect
Turn" refresher class when I took three freak falls, turning, oddly
enough. On the last two falls, my knee popped. I got the idea for this
devotion title while sitting with an ice pack on my knee, pondering
ruining our much anticipated ski vacation. At least it was day two.
Stuff happens. I will be ready for next year.

As I sat there watching out the window at happy skiers boarding chair
lifts for the top of mountain, my thoughts turned to pride. I was not
bragging before my fall except for maybe a couple of pictures on
Facebook(whoops), but was feeling proud of myself for finally feeling
comfortable at higher speeds and possibly ready for a more advanced
lesson when this little mishap occurred. So there I was. Go figure.

In life we may get a little too self assured or self reliant and may
think we do not need God, then Poof. The rug of life throws us a curve
ball to keep us humble and show us our need for God. God did not cause
me to fall and I had not forgotten Him, but perhaps I was being more
overconfident than I needed to be. So there I was sitting with an ice
pack on my knee contemplating getting a refund on my lift ticket and
ski rentals.

Is there something in your life perhaps that has slowed you down and
made you see life from a different perspective? Maybe something
happens to show you you are not in control. I may have been skiing
since 1995 but a simple tumble injured my knee, more specifically completely tore
my ACL and have a partial tear in LCL among other things. So this

season is over since no snow and mountains are anywhere near me. The
good thing is though I am still walking and so therefore have next
year, the year and so on as long as God gives me breath and good
knees.

Things happen for a reason but I need to figure this one out. I am
thankful it was not worse and that Ski Patrol did not have to haul me
off the mountain on a snow machine gurney or in an ambulance.

Is there an area of your life you need to turn over to God? Do you
ever become too proud? Pride literally does go before a fall. Proverbs
16:18(NIV) says 'Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit
before a fall.'

PRAYER: Lord thank you for the talents and abilities you have given
me. Help me remember that you alone give me the abilities I need to do
what I do in work or in play. All these are gifts from you. I thank
you Lord and forgive me if I ever forget to say thanks. In Jesus'
name. Amen.

ARE YOU A SINNER?

You betcha, we all are. The fact is we need to recognize no one is perfect but we also need to not purposely sin when we know something is against what the Bible says. The Bible says in John 8:7 "let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

Many try to talk themselves out of sin by changing what the Bible says. I have heard some say "Well sex before marriage is not a sin if the couple is going to get married", but wait, they are not married yet. (See Hebrews 13:4). Drinking is itself not a sin but drunkenness is.(See Ephesians 5:18). Lying is a sin.(See Colossians 3:9). Cheating is a sin. (Income tax time ring a bell?) Stealing is a sin, such as even office supplies you may innocently take home,

See we are all sinners. "All have sinned and fallen short of God's Glory" it says in Romans 3:23. Some people may like to put some sins into the five 'worst' categories but there is no such thing. Sin is separation from God and doing things against his word, period!The good news is God forgives. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

"All of us like sheep have gone astray" it says in Isaiah 53:6.  All of us have! No one is perfect. You point your finger in judgement at someone there are three more pointing back at you so get down off your 'holier than thou' pedestal because pride is a sin too. "But wait that guy on television in the orange jump suit and handcuffs did a much worse sin that what I did." Whoops. There you go again. Judging and classifying right and wrong. That is not our job. Our job is to love, show mercy and grace and be ready to forgive. Can you do that? If not clean up your own act first then ask God for the power to love others despite their shortcomings, as we all have them.


PRAYER: Thanks Lord that you forgive us when we mess up and do things that displease you. Help me Lord stay on the straight and narrow path. I want to walk with you and serve you .Help me see clearly the difference in good and evil and follow after the truth .In Jesus Name. Amen.


Click on link and worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/eNhz8BMTqsk

PUT DOWN THAT HORN!

Do you feel pretty good about yourself and your accomplishments? Maybe you have been to fine schools, have awesome degrees, make lots of money, a wonderful job title, or have received many awards. Perhaps you are in tight circles with important people. Maybe you have done things  that are 'off the charts'. Still God wants us to be humble and not 'toot our own horn'.

The Bible says the humble will be exalted and let another praise you and not your own mouth. Bragging or boasting  is mentioned many times in the word of God. It is tempting to want to prove to someone what you have done, who you may know, and how much you make. It is human nature to a 'proud nature' at times especially as a parent. But we are to have 'God's nature''.

The real mark of a Godly person is to be able to let your virtues speak for themselves and not think you are anyone special. We all have differing gifts and talents. If you feel you are on the braggy side ask God to help you be humble and not prove things to people by boasting.

Proverbs 27:2 says "Let another praise you and not your own mouth, someone else and not your own lips."  There is nothing to be gained by letting everyone know every wonderful thing you have ever done. God knows and that is all that matters.

Proverbs 25:27 says " It is not good to eat too much honey nor is it good to seek one's own honor". If you receive accolades give the glory to God for it is only through him you have your abilities, skills, gifts, and brains. You may think "But wait I did this on my own". Watch out for you may be brought low with that kind of attitude. A humble person is much more pleasant to be around.

Matthew 23:12 says "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Where are you at? Perhaps you are on the other end of envy of others. That too is wrong for each of us has differing gifts. Bloom for Jesus where he plants you, be content,  and give God the glory for your successes. In Deuteronomy 8:18 it reminds us it is God who gives the power to get wealth. Serve Him with the abilities he has given you.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for what you are doing in and through me. Help me never envy others and be thankful for exactly where you have me. Lord I thank you for what you can do through my life. Forgive me if i have ever become proud. In Jesus name. Amen.

Happy Monday! Click on link and praise God in song!
http://youtu.be/D-zk-E55dRk

TOWER POWER

From the beginning of their construction the tower has been the symbol of power. Think of the New York  City skyline for instance,Los Angeles  or Chicago. All the big financial places are in huge skyscrapers. They represent power and prestige and if not careful their occupants may become prideful thinking they are better than others. Think of Trump Tower in Manhattan. The Empire State building or the Freedom Tower being built on One World Trade Center in NYC.Towers represent money,prestige and importance.

In the Bible the 'power of the tower' caused real trouble. Remember Babel? Back before that, the whole earth spoke only one language. Can you imagine that? We could understand everyone. The people of Babylon in Genesis Chapter 11 started to exalt themselves above God so He confused their languages so they could no longer communicate to have power to build the tower. I guess this is where they phrase babbling comes from?Genesis 11:8 says "So in that way God scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city." These mere humans thought they were like the great and powerful Oz in the movie "The Wizard of Oz." No mere man needs to mess with trying to play God. Many have tried and failed.

In Psalm 2 verse number one it says "What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange that men should try to outwit God!"  It goes on in verse 2 to say "A summit conference of the nations has been called to plot against the Lord and his Messiah, Christ the King. " Seems like the word 'summit' is popular in our own US government today as the solution to everything. Verse 3 of this same chapter continues by saying "Come let us break his chains and free ourselves from slavery to God." Say what? God gives freedom not bondage. Psalm 2:4 goes on to say "But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans."

Remember the those who think they are great will be humbled.(See Matthew 23:12). Proverbs 29:23 says "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." It is God who gives the power to get wealth and has given people the gifts and abilities they do have.(See Deuteronomy 8:18). 1 Samuel 2:7 says "The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts." When we exalt ourselves over the Lord Almighty we are looking for trouble.

PRAYER: Father I thank you for your almighty majesty and power. Thank you for giving me the abilities you have given me. Forgive me if I have acted unsatisfied or not used the talents you have given me. I choose to let you have first place in my life and give you the glory when good things happen to me. In Jesus Name. Amen.


Note: When you have time enjoy this worshipful song I have included. Click on the link to listen. Be blessed!
http://youtu.be/HzNsEBPB-Z8