“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 ESV Growing up, I understood pride to fall into one category, vanity. To me, pride was to look in the mirror and admire your beauty, intelligence, and…
There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a…
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (II Corinthians 3:5, English Standard Version). Most of us take pride in our accomplishments in life. Whether it’s a level of education, mastering a skill, or achieving success in a…
“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:51-52 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).
Pride has no value. It gives a false sense of self-importance that exists only in the imagination of the heart. When God was looking for a human vessel to accomplish His will, He bypassed all of the high profile candidates and chose a humble young woman who was “powerless” in the eyes of society. God demonstrated that His favor rested upon those who followed Him in spite of the world. Though God handpicked her from all of the women on the face of the earth, Mary did not claim any glory from it.
Prayer: Lord, You value faithfulness, trust, and obedience above everything. Teach me these essential qualities and help me to never claim glory for myself. Amen.
Devotion by Julie Long