….God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble….I Peter 5:5 

I often prayed for my future in the writing profession. One of my concerns was that pride would destroy me and bring reproach to my Lord. Our tendency for pride lies within our human frame and I am no exception. As I prayed against pride God graciously answered. 

     I was crushed by the blow of rejection. The enemy crept in unaware and undermined my Christian character, planting doubt in the minds of people whom I loved and trusted. I cared too much what others thought, so my pride to be recognized in good standing was brought to light.

     We are nothing but dust of the earth, created to bring God glory. His word is freely given to us so that we might understand His revealed truth! We have no right to desire accolades of man. God alone is to be glorified, because He has preeminence!

     In 3 John verse 9 we find Diotrephes, who loved to have preeminence among the brethren. I assume his haughty attitude brought about his rejection of  John, Jesus’ beloved disciple. John, called to love and care for Jesus’ mother, later received divine revelation. John’s divine assignments left lasting legacy. I’m not sure we have much lasting fruit from Diotrephes.  

     I disdain the thought of being a Diotrephes but rather desire to be a humble, willing servant like John. Like John, I was rejected by fellow believers but by God’s grace, it pushed me to humility. I prayed and begged God to help me and He did so, while revealing to me that He alone is to be glorified. We need humility, in order to bring God glory when we are exalted. I still pray against pride because it has the ability to arise in any of us at any time.

     God resisted me in my pride. I thought too much of myself but by the grace of God He chastised me. God humbles us when we refuse to humble ourselves.

WORDS OF TRUTH

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. I Peter 5:6