PRAYER PROMPT ••• This weekend, I fell victim to the social media time-sucking feature that allows minutes to turn into hours, unintentionally spent watching penguins trip on ice, saving recipes we’re never going to make, or sorting through our friend’s vacation pictures.
For me, it was a ten-minute article that highlighted people who went to exceptional lengths to impress others, only to be caught in their own deceit.
Why do we do this (I’m lumping all of us in here)?
We may not all post ridiculously stupid attempts to make ourselves seem bigger and better than the truth, but we’re all guilty of wanting to impress and at one point or another, bragging.
It boils down to pride.
Humanity has created a measuring stick of comparison that God never intended us to make.
He made each one of us unique (Isaiah 64:8).
But we don’t see ourselves as unique creations; we see our failures and how we can never seem to keep up with the Jones’s.
We shake our heads in wonder at their stupidity and yet it never occurs to us that our laughter is the very reason they feel the need to boast!
These schemes, half-baked though they were, were cries of deep insecurity and a longing to be accepted.
Whether it’s the pride of self-sufficiency or the kind of pride that attempts to mask what is real, the common denominator is… pride.
And pride gets us into trouble.
Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”
As Christians, what if we could leave our pride on the shelf and reserve our bragging rights for all that God is doing in our lives?
Psalm 34:2a says, “I will boast only in the Lord.”
Paul wrote about boasting in his weakness so that the greatness of the Lord would be magnified (2 Corinthians 12:9).
And of course, Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that our salvation is based on our faith, not our works so that no one can boast.
Today, as you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to help you stay humble.
To keep pride from being a downfall.
Ask Him to help those who struggle with insecurities so deep, they look to deceive others in an effort to feel better.
Ask Him to give reassurance that they are uniquely and wonderfully made, and loved beyond comprehension.
One Response
Truly a convicting and challenging post, Denise! Thank you for reminding us to keep our eyes on Jesus and not on ourselves. Yes, I will definitely ask the Holy Spirit to give me His perspective today! <3 <3