The problem of pride

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Nehemiah 1:1–3:14 
1 Corinthians 7:1-24 
Psalm 31:19-24 
Proverbs 21:4

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Proverbs 21:4 (CSB) "The lamp that guides the wicked - haughty eyes and an arrogant heart - is sin."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

If there is one sin that is the root of all other sins, it is pride. 

Pride is the notion that we are at the center of our world and everything operates out of that paradigm. When we make decisions, they are ultimately focused on self-interests. When we assess our work, we assume it is better than anyone else's. When we talk, our words are primarily about ourselves because we are convinced that we are the most important thing to be discussed. When we sin, it is only because we have determined that we make up our rules, not God.

On and on we could go with the possibilities of how a proud person acts.

But, have you ever noticed that when we have a pride problem, it doesn't seem that bad? Yet, when someone else has a pride problem, it is utterly appalling to us?

Further, it's not just distasteful - it will wreck relationships, families, churches, and communities. If we are to get along with each other and enjoy relationship, pride must go.

So, while we may struggle with pride, simply reflecting on what pride causes will lead us to the clear conclusion that it is a cancer that will destroy us and what is precious to us.

That is one of the reasons for our Verse for Today. When God calls something "sin," He's not just making up arbitrary rules. He knows how we operate. He knows what is best for us, those around us, and His glory. And whatever would bring harm to His glory or His precious creation is called "sin."

Proverbs 21:4 (CSB) "The lamp that guides the wicked - haughty eyes and an arrogant heart - is sin."

Give the Holy Spirit permission to search your heart today (Psalm 139:23-24). Consider asking a close friend to be honest with you. Look to see if pride has taken root in your heart.

When (not if) you find pride in your heart, ask God to help you to eradicate it. And then look for circumstances to come your way that will humble you. It won't be pleasant, just like some medicine isn't pleasant. But, it will work for your long-term good on your journey to become more like Jesus.

The danger of blessings

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Chronicles 26:1–28:27 
Romans 13:1-14 
Psalm 23:1-6 
Proverbs 20:11

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

2 Chronicles 26:16 (CSB) "But when he became strong, he grew arrogant, and it led to his own destruction..."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

One of my very favorite passages in the Bible is Isaiah 6:1-8. Those verses allow us to peer into Heaven. We see the Heavenly Temple and God's glory filling it. We hear the angels crying out, back and forth, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"

But, this captivating passage begins with these words:

"In the year that King Uzziah died..." (Isaiah 6:1)

You see, Isaiah 6:1-8 was God's way of encouraging the prophet Isaiah. A very good king died and the future was now uncertain. But God reminded Isaiah through a vision that He was still sitting on the Throne of Heaven ruling over every detail of planet earth.

However, when we read the story, we realize that Uzziah didn't simply die. I suspect that Isaiah mourned the fact that a very good king, who started wonderfully well, ended horribly. Uzziah was such a godly man and he led the people to follow the Lord. Yet, he made a huge mistake and sinned against the Lord. His life ended in bitter health and his reign ended with him as an object of people's pity.

So, what happened? What caused Uzziah to turn from a very good king to a pitiful excuse for a leader?

"But when he became strong, he grew arrogant, and it led to his own destruction..." (2 Chronicles 26:16)

Because he followed the Lord so passionately, God blessed him.

As God blessed him, he became powerful.

As he became powerful, it went to his head and he became proud.

As he became proud, he failed to submit to the Lord's authority over his life and he fell into sin.

As he fell into sin, it led to his demise.

Do you see how we must be so very careful when the Lord blesses us? We must receive those blessings humbly and continue to acknowledge God's authority over us and our inability to do anything of consequence without Him. Otherwise, what begins as God's blessings will end with God's discipline and judgment.

So, whatever you plot in life and however God chooses to bless you, stay humble, my friend. Stay humble.

One way to deescalate a tense argument

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Kings 23:31–25:30 
Acts 22:17–23:10 
Psalm 2:1-12 
Proverbs 18:13

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 2:11 (CSB) "Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

This morning, I want to reflect on a verse other than the Verse for Today.

In Acts 23, we read about a very volatile gathering. Paul was warned about going to Jerusalem but he went anyway. Once there, even though he tried to create terms of peace, the Jewish religious leaders would have none of it.

In this chapter, Paul is before the Council. The Sanhedrin. They were the Jewish Supreme Court. And Paul was standing and speaking boldly even though his life hung in the balance.

And then it got crazy. Paul said that he had lived with a clear conscience and the High Priest told someone close by to hit Paul on the mouth.

It would have hurt. But, Paul wasn't backing down. His temper flared and he looked at the man who had ordered the punishment and brazenly said: 

"Then Paul said to him, 'God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?'" (Acts 23:3 - CSV)

A punch had been thrown that landed on Paul's mouth. Then, with stinging lips, Paul retorted with his own verbal attack. Then, as the conflict escalated (only compounded by the fact that everyone felt justified)...

"Those standing nearby said, 'Do you dare revile God’s high priest?'" (Acts 23:4 - CSV)

This conflict was escalating and someone needed to deescalate it, and do it quickly. It was Paul's turn...

"'I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,' replied Paul. 'For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'" (Acts 23:5 - CSV)

Paul acknowledged his error. He knew that God's Word forbid speaking evil about those in authority. He knew he had violated God's Word. 

So, he owned it.

As I read the biblical account, I suspect that tension was building in the room much like pressure in a crock pot. But, Paul was humble enough to own his error and I suspect that the tension quickly left the room.

Friend, disagreements are going to happen. It is super easy to help them escalate. Our sinful pride enables us to have the knee-jerk reactions that fill the room with tension.

But, if we ask the Lord for humility, He can use us to quickly calm things down. 

Remember this the next time you get into an argument.

Humbling ourselves before God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 22:1-53 
Acts 13:16-41 
Psalm 138:1-8 
Proverbs 17:17-18

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 138:6 (CSB) "Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today reminds us of a couple of very important truths:

The Lord is exalted. Bringing other Scriptural truths to bear upon this verse, we recognize that God is above all else. There is none like Him. He is the ruler of Creation and the posture most fitting (and enjoyable) for us is kneeling and bowing before Him.

As the most high and exalted over Creation, we are surprised to read the next part of the verse.

He enjoys those who are humble. Yet, He "knows the haughty from a distance" which means there is no relationship with them.

God is attracted to humility. The attribute of thinking of others more than we do ourselves was evidenced even by His own Son (see Philippians 2:3-11).

So, humble yourself before God today. Recognize your dependence upon Him. Demonstrate that dependence by spending time listening to Him in your Bible reading. Further demonstrate it by offering up prayers throughout the day anytime you have a decision to make, a need to be met, or a moment to share. Recognize that He wants you to enjoy Him but you cannot do that when you have unconfessed sin in your heart so be quick to confess and repent of (turn from) any sin that you are aware of.

Friend, most certainly there is more of God to enjoy than you are presently experiencing. So, take the steps to increase your happiness by submitting to God and deepening your relationship with the One you were made to worship.

Bragging about what hasn't yet happened

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 20:1–21:29 
Acts 12:24–13:15 
Psalm 137:1-9 
Proverbs 17:16

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

1 Kings 20:11 "The king of Israel answered, 'Say this: "Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off." ' "

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verse I chose as the Verse for Today is classic. The weak, evil king Ahab and Aram's King Ben-hadad were 'talking smack' as Ben-hadad threatened to plunder Ahab and destroy him. Yet, encouraged by a prophet's words, Ahab regained his confidence and provoked his enemy with these words...

1 Kings 20:11 "... Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off."

Essentially, king Ahab said that it's easy to brag about being victorious when you are putting on your armor and preparing for battle. It's quite another to brag about being victorious after the battle when you have actually won.

Even though evil King Ahab said this, there is much truth in it.

Just read the following verses:

Proverbs 27:1 "Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring."

James 4:13-17 "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring - what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it."

As Ahab said, we really have no right to brag about what hasn't yet happened. 

Of course, we can and should prayerfully plan ahead. But, because of our limited knowledge, we have no clue what lies around the corner. So, we plan but we also trust in God for what is ahead. 

And never, under any circumstances, do we brag about what we haven't yet done. I think that God delights to periodically turn the tables in those instances to remind us of how frail we really are.


via GIPHY

Making much of our God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 19:1–20:48 
John 3:22–4:3 
Psalm 104:24-35 
Proverbs 14:22-24

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

John 3:30 (CSB) "He must increase, but I must decrease."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our verse for today come from the mouth of John the Baptist. He was told that Jesus' crowds were getting bigger and bigger. It's as if John's followers were getting at least a little bit jealous and expected John the Baptist to share those sentiments.

But, he didn't. He acknowledged that people must focus more upon Jesus and less upon John.

Why?

Because John's ministry pointed to Jesus. John's ministry prepared the way for Jesus. 

So, as John's task was coming to an end and Jesus' ministry was beginning, John said that it was supposed to be this way. Jesus was supposed to "increase" while John was supposed to "decrease."

Those words could and should be used by us. It should be our desire to make much of Jesus and little of us.

Whether or not this happens depends upon who we give the credit to when something goes well. It depends upon whether our actions and words are demonstrating that our belief in and love for our God are heart-felt.

John the Baptist's words should be our own. Are they?

The humility to listen and learn

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 15:1-63
Luke 18:18-43
Psalm 86:1-17
Proverbs 13:9-10

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 13:10 (CSB) "Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

What is it that causes so many of us to bristle when others give us advice? Maybe we're insecure? Maybe we want to seem like we've got it all together? Maybe we've got a pride problem?

Maybe it's a teenager that doesn't want to listen to their parents. Maybe it's a husband who is in the driver's seat and refuses to stop and ask for directions. Maybe it's a church member who doesn't want a fellow member to tell them how to fix one of their problems.

Whatever the surface reason might be, we don't like it when others give us advice because we are arrogant. It's that simple. We don't like it when others appear to know something that we don't. We are under the impression that this makes us look bad and our pride doesn't like it.

And when that sin problem rests within our heart, I've seen it create strife over and over. "I know! I know! You don't have to tell me!" Whether we say it audibly or yell it silently in the hallways of our mind, those words put wedges between people, not draw them together.

But, we aren't going to gain more knowledge and wisdom unless we listen to others.  Whether it's a book or conversation, we need to listen to others to get the wisdom we need to live this one life God has given to us. And that's going to take humility. But, if we can humble ourselves enough to listen and learn, we are all the better for it.

Proverbs 13:10 (CSB) "Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice."

The benefit of humbling ourself

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 3:1-4:24
Luke 14:7-35
Psalm 80:1-19
Proverbs 12:27-28

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 14:11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Bible reading for today, we came across instructions from Jesus that once again tell us to humble ourselves. Humility is a huge theme in Scripture. Jesus humbled Himself (Philippians 2) and we are called often to do the same.

In this morning's reading, we are given one of the many benefits of humbling ourselves. We are told that it will spare us embarrassment and may set us up to be honored.

In Luke 14:7, Jesus acknowledged that it is within the human heart to exalt ourselves. We often think much too highly of ourselves and desire for others to do the same.

"He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves:" (Luke 14:7)

In the following verses (Luke 14:8-10), Jesus gives some simple instruction. He tells us that when there is an opportunity to honor ourselves, don't do it. Always take the option that involves humbling ourselves. 

The benefit? If we honor ourselves, we risk being embarrassed in front of others by someone who brings us back to reality.

"The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place." (Luke 14:9)

But, if we are not full of ourselves and are willing to humble ourselves, then we may experience the joy of being honored.

"But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' You will be honored in the presence of all the other guests." (Luke 14:10)

But, get this point! If in humbling ourselves, we are hoping to be honored (because our heart is filled with pride), then there will be no joy if we aren't honored. As always, Jesus is addressing the heart. Ultimately, He isn't telling us how to set ourselves up to get an inflated ego. He's telling us that there are benefits to having a truly humble heart.

So, how is your heart? Are you full of yourself or are you following Jesus' example by being a servant to those around you? Today is a new day. Why not ask the Lord to do a work in your heart to enable you to live humbly before Him and others.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11)

Desperately Crying Out For God

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 32:1-33:23 

Matthew 26:69-27:14 

Psalm 33:1-11 

Proverbs 8:33-36

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Exodus 33:11 "Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend..." 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

We are a very success, action-oriented people. 

When someone tells us how busy they are, we feel compelled to tell them how busy we are, too. We may even want to tell them how much busier we are than them.

When someone tells us what they have achieved, we feel compelled to reveal our own personal achievements. We find it difficult to celebrate someone else's accomplishments unless we have our own set of successes.

Why is this?

Primarily because we have sinful hearts. We tend to be self-focused and want others to focus on us and value us, too. In our American society, busyiness and success is where we suspect that we get that value.

In today's reading in Exodus, we are invited into a back-and-forth scene between God and Moses. The people of Israel were people of action (they were headed to the Promised Land). Further, they were people who worked to achieve success (they needed to defeat any problem that kept them from achieving that goal).

But, their leader knew that action and success meant nothing if a vital component was missing. God had just stated that the people of Israel were so predictably stubborn and sinful that He wasn't going to accompany them any further as they traveled to the Promised Land.

Listen to Moses' response:

"Then Moses said, 'If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me - on me and on your people - if you don't go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.'" (Exodus 33:15-16)

Did you get that? Moses said that unless he could count on the fact that God was with them, he didn't want to go into action. 

What would it be like if each of us as individuals and the churches that we are a part of would refuse to go into action unless we could guarantee that God was with us? 

Too often, we go into action and achieve some levels of success. Yet, what we accomplished could have easily been done by someone who claims no relationship at all with the Lord. In fact, there was never any significant prayer and no sense of desperation beforehand asking for God's presence and guidance. 

We are action/success-oriented people who have learned to build the Tower of Babel on our own apart from God's help.

Oh, that we would become like Moses who realized that he desperately needed God's presence. Oh, that we could be like him as he refused to act unless he knew that God was with him. Maybe then we could see our God do some amazing things among us!

What exactly does God hate?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 13:17–15:18

Matthew 21:23-46

Psalm 26:1-12

Proverbs 6:16-19

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 26:8 "I love your sanctuary, LORD , the place where your glorious presence dwells."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

If God came up with a list of seven things that he absolutely loathed, would you be interested in looking at that list? I certainly would! I'd want to be sure that I avoided anything on the dreaded list.

Well, fortunately, such a list exists! It's found in our Bible reading today.

Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things the LORD hates - no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family."

As we read this list, we may be surprised at the things on the list ... and the things that were omitted. Within the Christian community, there are some things that will put the 'scarlet letter' on your chest - and they aren't on this list.

So, let's quickly break this list down to see what we need to particularly avoid:

haughty eyes, 

This is the look that someone gives who is saturated with pride. Maybe their face is aimed slightly upward so that they look down their nose at you. Maybe your nose is the one in the way. God hates this kind of look. 

Someone who follows Jesus is someone who realizes that pride is a problem at the root of all sin. We all struggle with it. But we are joining God in trying to kill it in our hearts. Further, we are striving for humility (Philippians 2:1-8)

a lying tongue, 

This one is easily understood. It's when someone refuses to speak the truth. They are a liar. 

Someone who follows Jesus is someone who speaks the truth because the Bible is truth (see John 17:17) and Jesus is truth (John 14:6).

hands that kill the innocent, 

This refers to someone who literally takes someone someone's life or, as Jesus pointed out, it can refer to someone who is simply angry at someone else (Matthew 5:21-22).

Someone who follows Jesus will strive to love every single person they encounter. This includes fellow Christians (John 13:35), anyone in need (Luke 10:25-37), and those who intentionally make our life miserable (Matthew 5:44-47).

a heart that plots evil, 

This refers to someone who's heart is wicked. They aren't simply engaged in sin - it is often premeditated. They spend time thinking about and preparing for how they will break God's moral code. We tend to think that "evil" is the category of sins that are worse than what we engage in. Yet, "evil" can be used of things that are simply opposed to God and His law.

Someone who follows Jesus realizes that our God doesn't simply look at what we do - He looks at the heart behind what we do (1 Samuel 16:7). Further, we realize that our actions are simply an outflow of the condition of our heart (Luke 6:45) so we seek to join God in working to purge our hearts of sin and fan into flame our desire for holiness (Philippians 2:12-13).

feet that race to do wrong, 

This refers to someone who isn't content to plan to do wrong - they want to do it right now! There is very little if any constraint as a sin pattern becomes their god. They cannot and will not say "no" to what is wrong.

Someone who follows Jesus is regularly saying "no" to sin. In fact, instead of running to sin they are partnering with God to kill sin in their minds and hearts (Romans 8:13).

a false witness who pours out lies, 

This refers to someone who isn't simply a liar, as bad as that is. They are someone who willfully withholds the truth with the knowledge that their words are harming someone who is innocent of the alleged wrongdoing. This action speaks obviously to the cold-hearted condition of the liar's soul.

Someone who follows Jesus speaks truth and is generous with their words of encouragement and affirmation for others (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

a person who sows discord in a family.

This refers to someone who causes trouble in a family or a family of friends. One way this typically happens is gossip. "Did you hear what they said?" "Can you believe what they did?" "Now, this is just between the two of us. Don't tell anyone else."

Someone who follows Jesus doesn't stir up trouble. While there may be times that information is shared behind closed doors, it is never for the purpose of tearing someone down. Because a Christian's heart, if it is in tune with Jesus' heart, desires that people get along and experience peace (Romans 12:18). This is not a peace at all costs. Sometimes, continued sinful activity or theological heresy creates divides that cannot be bridged. But, these should be the exception and not the norm.

__________

So, there you have have it. The Dirty 7. These are the things that the Lord absolutely hates. Let's be extra careful to avoid things that made this list and repent quickly when we are guilty of any of them.

When God humbles us it's a good thing

As I read the final chapters of the Biblical book of Job, I can't help but feel sorry for Job. From chapters 38-41, God hammers away with question after question. His intention is to remind Job that he is small man on a small planet that would appear to be an insignificant speck in the incredibly massive universe.

But, my sympathy is misplaced. When I come to understand what God is doing to Job (and what God desires to do with us), I realize that God is actually doing an incredibly loving thing.

Let me illustrate the point: Have you ever stood before a majestic mountain or a massive, cascading waterfall or something of the sort and just stood in awe? You felt so small in front of something so massive - so amazing - but your humility actually added to the joy. Because you were OK with feeling small, you were free to enjoy the greatness of what was before you.

Here's one more question: Have you ever had the previous experience with someone who was completely unimpressed? They diminished what you held in such high regard. They arrogantly treated what was so valuable as if it was common.

Here's another question: Who enjoyed the experience more? You who were humbled by it or the one who arrogantly was unmoved by the experience? The answer is obvious. We are most free to experience joy when we are humbled in the presence of something much greater than ourselves.

This is what God was doing with Job. Apparently, through all of his horrible experiences, Job had grown self-righteous and arrogant even to the point of questioning God's intentions and character. In that condition, He was not free to enjoy his God. So, to increase Job's joy, God pounded away at him with question after question with the intention of humbling him.

Application: Don't resist God's workings in your life to remind you of how frail and impotent you are in the grand scheme of things. It is only when we are humbled that we are free to really enjoy our incredible God.

See yourself as God sees you

Too many of us (I'm certainly included) base our self-worth on props that often cannot handle the weight. We base our value on what we've accomplished, where we've gone, what educational achievement(s) or degree(s) we've attained, how many heads turn when we walk into the room, how many "likes" our social media posts get, the size of our house or vehicles (compared to others, of course), how many people call to check on us when we miss a meeting or church, and so forth.

When we think about this token list, we come to at least two realizations:

1) most of us find our value in these sorts of superficial things and

2) all of them can be stripped away (or considered meaningless by those we desire to impress) almost immediately.

Is it wrong to crave to be valued? Of course not. God made us this way. All of us want to think that our one life matters and that it matters to more than just us.

So, is there a way that you and I can get a sense of value that cannot be taken away? ... that sufficiently satisfies that deep-down longing that every one of us has?

Absolutely! Just come to see yourself as God sees you! Read, study and, by faith, internalize the very words that God has said are true of you!

Just one such word from God to you is found in 1Peter 1:18-19. It tells you what price God paid so that you could be saved and brought into fellowship with Him. Talk about value!

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)

"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God."

This is just one of the hundreds and hundreds of things that God has said are true of you if you have been saved. Do yourself a huge favor and look for and internalize God's truth.

One more thing: When we see ourselves as God sees us rather than coming up with our own set of "self-esteem props", we'll be filled with humility and gratitude to God rather than sinful pride. That's a good thing.

Sermon (video): "The Insanity of Pride" (Psalm 8)

This sermon seeks to define pride, show that each of us struggles with it, and show that while it is natural it also is bizarre that we would tolerate such a thing in our life.

It was preached at the Westside Baptist Church of Murray, Kentucky on Sunday morning, January 25, 2015.

Killing pride with thanksgiving

Pride is the most natural and the most illogical sin that we commit.

It's the most natural because ...

... our sinful nature insists that we sit on the throne of our own heart. We want to rule our own life. We want the world to revolve around us.

It's the most illogical because ...

... absolutely everything we have comes from God. 

Our brain? God gave it to us. 

Our achievements? God gave us those. 

Our possessions? God gave us the ability to make money and obtain those. 

Our next breath? If God so chose, it could be our last. Only His grace continues to give us the next and then the next.

King David got it. As he offered up a prayer of thanksgiving for all of the material that had been collected to build the Temple in Jerusalem, he was moved to acknowledge that there is no room for pride in the human heart. Anything we do, anything we give, whatever we are … it is all because of God's favor upon us.

1 Chronicles 29:13-15 (New Living Translation)

"O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace."

Is there a root of pride in your heart? Replace it with prayers of thanksgiving to our God.

I failed to glorify God and ...

In this season of our life, Kim and I have been learning that through Christ we can do all things (Philippians 4:13) but without Him we can't do diddle-squat (John 15:5) [Jesus didn't actually use the words 'diddly-squat']. We've had conversations in which we agreed that as God blesses us with more opportunities and more successes in the future, we will be quick to remind each other of those truths if we suspect pride welling up in each other.

This is, after all, how God operates. Before He allowed Joseph to become second in command of the only world power at that time, He humbled him by letting him be sold into slavery and then had him thrown into prison for a few years. Before He allowed Moses to have the incredible task of leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He humbled him by sending him to the wilderness for 40 years to tend sheep.

Before God uses anyone, He humbles them first. God is about the business of glorifying Himself and the only persons who are capable of joining Him in that task are those who are no longer seeing the need to compete for that glory.

Well, how quickly we forget! Let me be transparent for a moment...

I have two races coming up next month. I've registered for a 5K race on April 6th and then a half-marathon on April 20th. Some intense training and high miles have been a weekly staple as I've prepared for them. And while the half-marathon is going to be a high point for me simply because I've never run a race that long, the 5K is special because it is the second time I'll run that particular race. I ran it a year ago and it was the first race I ever participated in. It also happens to be the fastest race I've ever run. I ran the 3.1 miles in 24 minutes and 21 seconds. I've never beat that time since.

So...

I posted last Saturday on my dailymile running blog this message: "This is the second time I will run this race. It is also the first 5K race I ever ran as a new runner last year. My finish time on this course last year was 24:21. I've never been able to beat that 5K PR. I WILL beat that time on April 6th!"

I was feeling a little self-confident. I should have remember Proverbs 16:18 where it says: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."

I went out the very next day for a Sunday afternoon long run. I was supposed to run 10 miles but crashed and burned after 8.56 miles. Then, on Monday, I was supposed to do a 7 mile run but only got in 3.5 miles because my Achilles Tendons on both of my legs were in serious pain.

Here it is Thursday and I haven't run since Monday. My Achilles Tendons are getting better but are still a little painful.

I've had time to assess why it happened:

• Physically - It happened because I have not been doing enough stretching (specifically dynamic stretching) before each run. I need to begin doing some static stretching after each run as well.
• Spiritually - It happened because I was getting confident in myself rather than confident  in what Christ could do through me. I believed that I had the power within myself to reach the goal. However, I failed to remember that back at the age of 8, I submitted my life to the authority of Christ. He's the one that calls the shots and gets the glory now ... not me.

I've learned both lessons and may try to run a little tonight or tomorrow. I'll realize that whatever I can do or accomplish only happens as the Lord graciously provides me with the ability and opportunity. I'll also focus on gratitude to the Lord when I experience success knowing that He is the one who did it through me. In doing this, I will be glorifying the Lord, even while I run!

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do (this includes running!), do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31