We are each designed for a unique and divine purpose. Live yours!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Pride, Wisdom, Mercy

For several weeks now, God has been nudging me to think about pride.  That word has popped up at seemly random quiet moments, and sometimes it is the first thought I have when I wake up. I have waited to explore pride until I felt I fully understood what God wanted me to know/ realize.

The website catholicbible101.com tells us, "Pride was the devil's great sin, as he wanted to be like God, and rebelled. . . The first requirement of pride is spiritual blindness. Any glimpse of God reveals our frailty and sinfulness, just as a well-lit bathroom mirror shows the flaws in our complexion."

Wow! Any glimpse of God reveals our frailty and sinfulness!  Well, you can perhaps imagine how many 'glimpses of God' I've experienced in the last long while from some of my posts! Yes, I've been thinking about pride quite a bit. If pride was the devil's great sin, then he has company in such as me.  I too, have been prideful!  All those angels around me and I dare to think--even for a moment--that anything good in my life is of my own making - and mine alone!

Certainly I have worked hard, done what I thought was right, struggled, endured and overcome. But I was not alone. I did not arrive to my current state of my own accord, by my own sheer force of will. I have many talents, gifts and graces!  I am in a job I love at a company that truly cares about their employees.  I have had a long marriage to a man who loves me deeply. I have wonderful children . . . I . . . I . . . I . . .

Spiritual blindness much? All those angels around me continually remind me of my importance to God! But that importance is not because of my knowledge, abilities, talents or anything else of this world! No . . . I have the abilities, talents and gifts because of my importance to God. And the importance that I use those gifts and graces in His service--for His purpose--to advance His kingdom. For His glory! Period!

So . . .  I am His . . . for Him . . . All that I am is because of Him and through Him.


Pride

                     Wisdom

                Mercy


"In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God" (Psalm 10:4 NIV)

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18 NIV).

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV).

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2 NIV).

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12 NIV).

How amazing is my God that in spite of my pride, because of His mercy, He blesses me beyond imagining.


Blessings on your journey,
Mary

1 comment:

Andrea said...

Praying somehow in the midst of all my messes GOD is glorified!

Love you,
andrea