James 4:6 - Proud or Humble Living?
James 4:6 - Proud or Humble Living?
James 4:6 (MSG) "God goes against the unwilling proud; God gives
grace to the willing humble."
Willfulness is the stance that we don't need anybody other
than ourselves to accomplish our goals. Will-lessness is the stance
that our goals are impossible and it's not worth trying to meet them.
God can do nothing for either the willful or the will-less person,
the arrogant or the passive person. But in contrast to these is the
willing person. This is the person of humble faith who says, "I can't do
this on my own, but I'm willing to try if God gives me the strength."
God gives grace to the willing person.
You may have moments when you want to throw in the towel.
Maybe you have had a setback or you are facing an overwhelming
situation or transition. The important thing is to stay focused on Christ
and keep going. Don't opt for will-lessness because the challenge is
big. Stay willing so you are open to God's strength in every
situation.
Humility is the key that unlocks the treasure chest of God's
grace to do what would be impossible on our own. [The Daniel Plan
365-Day Devotional]
When my kids were little, it seemed like any problem could be
quickly solved with fish crackers and a juice carton. But the reality of
grown-up life is that we are powerless over many of the circumstances in
our lives. When I try to grab one of those problems by the horns and
fix it myself, it usually ends up in a tangled mess.
It's humbling to realize we have no power. The big man inside
us wants to be able to take care of business. But no matter how bad
things are, we can always make things worse by flexing our muscles and
beating our chests.
Fortunately, there is a way to deal with the problems in our
lives, though it seems opposed to what we've always been taught. The
Bible tells us that the people who humble themselves will gain honor
and find a solution to their problems. God has a unique and special
purpose for each of us. But we must remove our pride and let him lead
the way. Only then can we be infused with his wisdom and counsel.
Only then can we see the big picture. Only then can we find permanent
solutions rather than temporary fixes.
Father, I surrender my heart and life to you once again.
Thank you for teaching me that I have no power over my life, but I am
powerful when I live in fill surrender to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
[Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker re Pro. 29:13]
Pride is a big problem that can derail us. But knowing why we
act out of pride can sometimes help us reject that unhealthy
thinking. These are some of the reasons:
1. Pride often masks insecurity. We feel that no matter how
much we achieve, it will never be enough.
2. Pride may be the result of a lack of positive attention
and affirmation in our lives. We think we have a right to this
recognition even if we have to boast about ourselves.
3. Pride comes when we believe our achievements are our own
doing.
The following acrostic is a check to help us rid ourselves of
PRIDE:
P stands for prayer. Pray that God will show you where pride
is present in your life.
R stands for reading your Bible. A word study on the word
pride is a good place to begin.
I stands for involvement with others. Because it's hard to
see things in ourselves, we need to ask others what they see.
D stands for developing a plan for getting rid of the pride
in your life. This plan should include God and your accountability
partners.
E stands for Ephesians 3:20-21, which says, "To him who is
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to
his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!
Amen."
Dear Father, I want my life to be free of pride, which can
trip me up and keep me from being all I can be. Thank you for helping
me as I fight this enemy of my soul. In Jesus' name, Amen.
[Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker re Pro. 16:18]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
C. S. Lewis asserts that the ultimate sin is Pride. "It is a
terrible thing that the worst of all the vices can smuggle itself into
the very center of our religious life." Lewis says that other vices,
such as anger, greed, and drunkenness, are "mere fleabites in
comparison" and come from our physical nature, but Pride, he observes,
"comes direct from hell."
Direct from hell? Isn't that a bit extreme?
"It was through Pride that the devil became the devil," Lewis
contends. "Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God
state of mind." [The One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra re
Zep. 2:3]
God forbid that we find ourselves feeling totally
self-sufficient, without need. It is in that dark corner that pride lurks. Once
pride takes over, we see little reason to invite the Lord to do His
work in our lives. Take inventory. Have you invited God into the
affairs of your life? [God's Little Devotional Bible re Psa.66:8, 9]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050113-1040.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Music Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
LINKS FOR PROPHECY SEMINARS:
Revelation Today by Pastor John Bradshaw:
https://revelationtoday.com/other-streams/
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
