There’s a lot being written about the CoronaVirus….how to thrive in quarantine, how to do social distancing, what the latest statistics are, what’s shut down, etc. But I want to invite you to go inward and examine your heart and how this new environment has affected your motives and heart. As I reflect, it has certainly forced me to look inward at my heart. First, my heart feels frustrated and a bit out of control. Not so …
Category: Pride
“Therefore, my God, I give thanks and praise Your glorious name. All things come from You, and I can only give You what comes from Your hand” – 1 Chronicles 29:14 The world tells us to always own things, not rent. We all know, renting is not wise financially for the long-term. Some people can’t afford to own things, like furniture, due to the need for a large sum of money at the time of purchase, so they rent instead. …
I want God’s favor on my life as I know you do. However, my go-to response to gain God’s favor was to do all the things Christians are supposed to do. Have a quiet time, study my Bible, pray, help little old ladies across the street. These are wonderful ways to love God and others, but something simpler might just come first. The key, I believe, is found in a few verses in Luke 1 regarding Mary, …
In reading Psalm 119 I noticed the phrase “whole heart” referenced several times. With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. Psalm 119:10 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119: 34 I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word. Psalm 119: 58 The world around us is a powerful force that lures us …
I may be oversimplifying things, but it seems to me that there are three important layers to how we process this life around us: Stimulus: The world around us. (top layer) Our Mind: This is where we perceive, reason and react to the world around us. (middle layer) Our Heart: This is where our core motivations and affections reside. (lower layer) Perhaps like you, I find myself living in the top two layers a lot. I experience things in the world with …
(8) “Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’ (10) You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ – Isaiah 47:8 & 10 (NIV) ~~~~~ Pride at home and work look eerily the same….just moved to another location. It’s …
When our hearts are humble toward God and others, they’re open to truth. Yet, when we believe our own wisdom (pride) is sufficient for the issues of life, our hearts become closed. Humility and pride determine the openness of our heart. Do you want the eyes of your heart open to His truth, grace and forgiveness? Do you want the eyes (of your heart) focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to …
Of all the concepts in the Bible related to the heart, a prideful and conceited heart tops the list – by far. Of all the verses in the Bible related to the heart, there are more verses on pride than any other topic. Satan helped bring about sin and pride in Adam and Eve with a simple question – “Hey guys, don’t you want to be like God”. Satan was whispering a prideful message to their hearts…”God’s holding back on you. You deserve better!” …
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. – Proverbs 16:5 ~~~~~ There is a voice that whispers to our heart that cleverly says “look away, look away”. Look to yourself, look to what you have, look to what you’ve built, look to what you want…look to what you deserve….and desire. The voice tells us: You’re important. You can figure it out. You’re powerful. You’re smart. You’re right. You’ve done great …