“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18 ESV
* I * MUST die!
I feel like the big trials I face are easier to run to Jesus about than small trials. Right? Anyone else feel that way? We know we need to run to God during the crazy hard times of our lives, BUT, what about the tiny “trials” we face every day? You know what I mean… Traffic. Slow drivers. Busy grocery stores. Long lines. Your kids.
All these things test our patience…. OR, if we go deeper into the things that tests our patience, is not actually our patience, but our pride. If we get down to the nitty-gritty of what tests our patience, I think we find pride at the root. UGH!! We think we are more important than the driver in front of us. Or that we should be able to move to the front of the line. Or that we should be able to go to Wegmans without the rest of the county being there (ummm… yeah, TRUE STORY!). LOL! And while I laugh about it, I have to remember that I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives within me. (Galatians 2:20) Therefore, I MUST die! Weekly. Daily. Hourly. Minute by minute. And sometimes second by second!
It’s never easy to die to ones self. It’s crazy hard, but I’m learning that with praise to our Creator, it gets a little easier with every word. Sometimes I have to force myself to listen to praise music. I would much rather jam to some country music or some 80’s with the windows down when I’m frustrated or annoyed, but sometimes, I need to die to self and praise Jesus! Or to tell Him over and over again just how wonderful He is for ALL that He has done for me. God is GOOD! He is worthy of my praise. He wants to be honored and worshipped because it changes my heart. Not because He’s some big ego in the sky. But because praise changes ME…from the inside out.
If you want to grow in prayer and praise, then go buy this book! Oh, and get a cute notebook and a fun colored pen because it is a daily devotional and will rock your world!
Thanks for reading this long post! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have errands to run… and a self to die to!
ShannonFabulous 