If Too Proud To Read This... You Should!

Isn't pride an amazing trap? There are times we don't even realize we've stepped into it until we try to take a step out! So what is the balance between pride in our Holy Lord and humility in ourselves? Well, God's been working with me on this matter and [at least until I decide to fall back into this nonsense by backtracking through the woods] He's brought me to a place I've never been before.

Just to make absolutely certain you realize what a proud person I was, my former nicknames are good hints: Diva, Goddess, Angel, Princess. Yes, that bad! I might've tried for 'Saint April,' but thank goodness I didn't! In understanding pride's vast appeal, we look at its initial temptation. Lucifer and Adam fell because they wanted to be greater or equal to God. We want so badly what we want that we're willing to take over some or all aspects of our lives and deny God the actual role of God! Our fearless Commander is rejected repeatedly by all His children as we strive just to struggle without Him, or run ahead until we realize we should probably wait for Him to "catch up"... if we absolutely need Him.

But why is this so tempting to the surrendered life of a believer? I think it roots in confusion. The vastness of Love Himself and His mercy is so incomprehensible, our limited minds in some small way or another reach the same conclusion. God's been so gracious, so merciful, so abundantly undeniably incredibly good to us, surely we must deserve it! We must be worth all the trouble He's gone to because, after all, if we didn't there would be no understanding or explaining this infinite Love in spite of the wretched creatures we are.

So how do we become the humble, meek, and lowly as God asks of us? By Him, there is NO OTHER WAY to do or become or say or be anything that He wants us to be by our own efforts. In pride, this is difficult because when ensnared by pride, we deem ourselves sufficient to climb out of the pit when we're actually digging deeper. Escape from pride is expressing simple truths. That we are nothing without Him, but can do anything through Him. That we're so desperately in need of Him, whether or not we realize it. That He can give us a heart of humility, a servant's heart, the heart of Christ, just as His Spirit dwells in us. Ask for it and receive it by faith. Be willing to put others before yourself, trusting God will enable you. Be more than willing to admit mistakes and sins and weaknesses constantly before the Lord. Be willing to care for those it is so easy to consider as 'lesser' being unsaved: the homeless, the drug addict, the prostitute, the person struggling with homosexuality. We are surrounded by them, we but need to search them out as Christ did, and in serving-in the small step of faith-we find He provides a servant's heart and we are humbled!

We find that all the good things we do are not to our credit at all. Though those around may think you are a "mother theresa descendant," you will clearly see that all the good that is in you is not your own, all the wisdom He provides is not your own, the will and determination, the dedication and faithfulness. These are things we sometimes think WE have invented in ourselves when in fact, they were implanted in us by our Saviour. Find way to give credit and worship and thanks and praise for everything--great or small--that goes well. Though it seems to be us, it is the Lord's handiwork and all credit is due Him in heaven and earth.

Praise His name! That dust such as us can be made of good use is a wonder in itself!

Thank you, Chris.
Indeed we already have and already are all we need in Him and do not need to become so. But we need to allow His workings in us. This requires the realization of where in our lives we are still living in the sin which we are dead to, for though it is conquered, we still, in ignorance, pick it up and walk with it still in our grasp. Acknowledging our death to sin means acknowledging the sin we're holding onto, saying 'how do I become as my sinless Lord?' He lives in us, yes, but He gives us opportunity to deny Him control. That is what I meant in 'how do I become meek?' As we're yet flesh, we will not fully walk in the truths of who we are in Christ. It was a good point, I'm glad you clarified!

How abundant is His wisdom, flowing from every lovely source!