Sunday9/5/2010 10:27:22 AM

Weekly Devotional

God says Yes to Humility and No to Pride

Scripture: James 4:6
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Scripture: Proverbs 16: 18-19
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God ALWAYS blesses humility and NEVER blesses pride. These are absolutes with God; throughout scripture we see the blessings of God continually upon those who humble themselves before Him and his resistance to those who are prideful, arrogant and haughty. This scripture in James gives a clear picture of God’s hand in regards to our humility and pride. Picture this: God GIVES grace to the humble and RESISTS the proud. Can you see God’s hand full of grace(unmerited and undeserved favor) giving to those that are humble, those that realize that apart from God they are nothing and can do nothing. Can you see God’s hand pulling back in resistance to those that are prideful, those that believe that their way is better than God’s way and have no need of God or His ways in their life? Since there is no middle ground, where are you in this equation? Is there an area in your life that is prideful or arrogant before God?

There are a few ways to ensure that you are on the receiving end of God’s grace and not His resistance.

1.) Humble yourself before God - Acknowledge that God is God and that you are a mere human full of mistakes and in need of God’s help and guidance to navigate your life.

2.) Do things God’s way -Put forth the intentional effort to do things the way God’s Word says they should be done and not the way you think they should be done. Remember: God has been doing EVERYTHING the right way since the beginning of time, so HE has a perfect and proven history that surpasses all of ours.

3.) Beware of Pride -At all costs beware of and be aware of PRIDE. Make a conscientious effort to rid yourself of pride and arrogance and keep it out of your life. Pride sets you up for a fall and destruction, Proverbs 16: 18-19. To think more highly of yourself and your ways tells God that you don’t need Him or His help in your life. God then, out His love for you, has to show you who He is, that you need Him more than you think and that His way is the only way to follow.

Position yourself to receive God’s grace through Humility not His resistance because of Pride.