Dear Ones,
Hope you have a blessed day. There is a hint of fall in the air, and we enjoy our walks on the trail as leaves are beginning to turn. Today I have food prep to do and trying a new dessert as we are having friends coming this afternoon.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
There is a lot mentioned in scripture of the importance of humility and Jesus led the way in showing us what humility looks like. He was an example of a humble servant who was obedient to do what His Father told him. The Pharisees were full of pride and Jesus often warned them in plain words, “For everyone who exults himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exulted.” (Luke 14:11) They never seemed to get it! I like the way the Message translation said it, “If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”
True humility doesn’t mean putting ourselves down but simply acknowledging our sinfulness and limitations in comparison to Jesus. Although we see our weaknesses, we can also see our gifts and strengths to use to serve the Lord. Pride has so many forms and Michael Mangis gives us the antidotes to the different ways pride manifests itself. He writes that if we pridefully think we are better than others, then maybe simplicity or poverty of spirit is the antidote. Or if we struggle with vanity, then modesty might help correct. Or if pride shows itself in irreverence than the antidote is reverence. Or if pride is seen in perfectionism, then it could be corrected by grace and brokenness. Pride is often seen in disobedience as we feel we know better, then obedience is the antidote.
When the Holy Spirit shows us more of our hearts, we often notice we confess the same sins over and over again. But maybe it would be helpful for us to think of the antidote so we can go one step farther in breaking the sin cycle. If we struggle with resentment, the antidote of forgiveness and release will help. Or if we struggle with anger to the point of rage, we need forbearance and peace. For each of us, it will be different for our sin patterns are not all the same. I am catching myself more quickly when I choose what is more comfortable rather than what is more challenging and costly in time etc.
May each of us grow in new ways as we humbly seek the Lord each day.
Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you His antidote to a sin pattern in your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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