Day 269 - Pride

"Pride can creep in and make you think you are stable when you are really ready to fall."

We have all heard the proverb that pride comes before the fall. It is true. Just when you think you are all that you are humbled. I would rather humble myself than be humbled. Wouldn't you? 

I studied out the word pride throughout the Bible and found that it is never used in a good way. Our common use is that we are proud of our accomplishments, proud of our kids and even proud to be an American. I get what people are saying but I wonder if we aren't saying the wrong thing and should maybe search for a better way to say it. Semantics? Possibly, but God made a point of changing names and never mixed words. Why wouldn't we give attention to it as well? 

I think the most compelling reason I think I am inclined to change my speech is because of what God says about Jesus. He never said He was proud of His Son. Wouldn't God have all the more reason to be proud? And yet we find a different word used by God when He speaks of Jesus. He says, "This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased." 

Try it out. You may feel silly saying it at first but after a while you might find that being pleased with your accomplishments, your family and you nation may be more fitting than being proud. 

Now before you tell me of the scriptures that say not to get into foolish and stupid arguments about words let me say that this is not a black and white thing. If you choose to continue present day use of the word proud I have no issues. 

We do have permission from the Word to boast. Paul boasted of his infirmities. We are also told that if we are going to boast we should boast in the Lord. I think those are two areas we could do a better job boasting in. I don't know it all but I do want to be pleasing to God. 

What do you think? What is the real difference between being pleased and proud? 

Day 237 - That is How People Get Killed

"It was a stupid move."

A year ago today we were sailing on a large boat and a guy in a Hobie cat cut right in front of us. He was under sail so technically he would have the right of way. The problem is that when you cut in front of a large vessel that is in motion you run the risk of getting run over. 

One of my good friends from the south says there is a saying there that you can't fix stupid. Aside from the humor of that statement I see it in how the events unfolded that day we were sailing. 

After the guy got around us he started to yell at us in anger that he was under sail and we should have gotten out of the way for him. So now we are the bad guys because you're being stupid?! That works in a textbook but in the water might is right. If the boat I was on was under sail and had the right of way but a large oil tanker came along and wanted me to move out of the way, you better believe I would be doing what I could to get out of the way. 

We are encouraged in the Bible many times and in many ways to look out for others and put their needs ahead of our own. When we look out for number one we fall into pride and the snare of the devil which will eventually bring us down. If we don't want him to steal kill and destroy then we need to yield our rights and let others be first. 

What are some ways we can put others ahead of ourselves? What scriptures talk about this? 

Day 208 - Look Right Through Me

"The cry of my heart tonight is “Lord I need You!” Everywhere and in every way. May I not get puffed up with the praises of men or caught up in my own publicity. I humble myself and exalt Christ."

It almost seems counterproductive to post this section of my journal because it deals with humility. You can tell someone is not humble when they tell you they are. I am not tooting my own horn, I am revealing a very personal cry of my heart that I pray daily in hopes that it will help you. 

I battle pride. The Bible calls it a snare of the devil. I don't want to get caught up in it and have everything I have worked for end up in ruins. When we get into pride the Bible tells us we will actually have God opposing us. It is only in our humility that we will receive the grace of God we need to get the job done. 

I recently read a story of a man who was watching a goat ascend a small trail up the steep part of a mountain. On this narrow trail another goat came down and the two met face to face. At first they paused and then both stepped back a few paces. Then to the man's amazement he watched as the first goat knelt down and allowed the other goat to walk over it's back in order to get by. Then the first goat stood up and continued climbing the mountain. 

It is when we humble ourselves that we will be exalted. The way up is down. When we lower ourselves in humility and submit ourselves to God's will and way for our lives He Himself will lift us up to where He wants us to be. 

The cry of my heart is that people would look right through me and see God. It doesn't matter who knows my name. What matters is that they know the name of Jesus. 

How do you battle pride? What are some ways we can humble ourselves?

Day 44 - Pride

"I could sense that I was witnessing the real intense emotion of the inner turmoil of pride and the fruit of it which is the desire to be right, to be heard and to be respected. The part that amazes me is that he was right, heard and respected but pride wanted more. I guess that is why it is the snare of the devil. Like a fire that eats but is never satisfied."

I fight pride. Every day I pray from James and 1 Peter the scripture that "God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble therefore I humble myself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift me up". Pride wants an exalted position. God wants to give it to us but He wants it to happen His way. The way up is down. As we humble ourselves, or if I could say, come under the mission, and will and way of God, then He will exalt us. 

The last thing I need is God working against me. He opposes the proud. Who can stand against God? 

On the other hand God gives grace to the humble. Grace is His power and ability for life. When I can't do it God does it in and through me by grace. That only happens when I totally depend on Him and submit myself to His will, His way. 

How do you fight pride? How can we stay humble?