Why are we so full of pride? Why do we care what others think? Why do we need to be in control (an illusion at best)? The answer to that is our sin nature.
♦It makes us think more of ourselves than we ought.
♦It makes us think we’re the center of the universe.
♦It causes us to justify our own faults (often while judging others’).
♦It makes life a lot harder than it has to be.
♦It causes us to have to learn our lessons the hard way, and often repeatedly.
♦It interrupts our ability to communicate honestly and effectively with others.
♦It drags us down to the depths, causing us to have to claw our way out (when we try to do it ourselves).
♦It brings so much hurt into the lives of others!
What’s the remedy? That would be: drugs, food, sex, alcohol,… JESUS!
We are to ‘take up our cross daily’. The reason we do it daily is that we cannot do it for more than that; we would be overwhelmed. Our sin nature and spiritual nature fight every day and leave us exhausted at the end of the day.
♦We rest if we can.
♦We surrender ourselves anew to Him;
♦We meet God in a new morning for a time of refreshing.
♦We put on our armor.
♦We pick up our cross.
BUT — we do not carry our cross alone! We do nothing alone when we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He takes the greater burden, but He does it silently. We often whine and cry that it’s too heavy, when we only feel a portion of the load. Ahhhhhhhh! Thank you God that your mercies are new every morning. Each day, we pick up that cross and walk together through the day. Each night, we rest while you watch. How awesome is that!
The above rumination, came out of the fun I’ve had this week with my dad, the funeral, etc. If you want to read the story, it is at my writing blog. It is called WARNING: TMI! And yes, it is! :)
Related articles
- Same message, different chapter (kevmill.wordpress.com)
May 25, 2012 @ 09:22:05
We care what others think because we have been hurt when we have been our true selves. We don’t care when we’re children. We learn to care (protection) as we grow and encounter people who cause us to feel unlovable and not good enough. We begin to copy and compare and stress over being acceptable. We care what others think because we’re afraid to be rejected and hurt again. If we love one another and learn not to be afraid of what others may think, their disapproval, etc. we will be much happier. We’re loved by our Heavenly Father and the Savior. That love is beyond our comprehension. If we can remember that at all times we can stop being insecure and fearful. : )
May 25, 2012 @ 20:00:46
Amen – we build up barriers through our hurts, but keep them up when they are no longer necessary. Trust is very hard to rebuild. Thanks for stopping by :)
May 25, 2012 @ 12:02:13
Very well written.
His grace is sufficient today.
May 25, 2012 @ 19:59:23
Thank you Deb:)
May 26, 2012 @ 14:27:19
Who in their right mind would want to carry a cross? Yet, even those who do not know Christ carry crosses, they just don’t know there’s no need to carry them alone. Well said, Angela :)
May 27, 2012 @ 19:48:55
Yes, we do, elizabeth! We carry unnecessary crosses along with the one we choose by following Him. It is a good thing to know we don’t have to do it alone.
May 28, 2012 @ 07:00:13
I have nominated you for the Thanks For Writing Award. Please bgo to my site for award picture. WordPress has rules of award.
May 28, 2012 @ 11:38:42
Aw, thank you so much!
May 28, 2012 @ 16:04:07
■Display the Award in your page –
■Award them to your favorite commentators –
■Ask them to forward it to their favorite commentators (please do pass it forward! )
■And don’t forget to link their page to their names –
May 29, 2012 @ 11:42:41
Thanks. I would love to award my favorite commentators! (or is that ‘common taters’???)
May 29, 2012 @ 20:16:01
Hi Angie, I just got back from holidays, I missed you, thank you for a well thought out message.
I believe we need to define Pride into two areas our fleshy selves which you have talked about and Godly Pride which is in the Scriptures too, see below, also if we believe we have God’s wisdom having asked for it, we do have the Truth and it will be confirmed in Scripture, if not it is our own understanding. When we have God’s wisdom we also have His ,knowledge, reasoning and logic even as we are still learning and we can have assurance that what we share is right and this is not arrogance or fleshy pride but is walking in obedience because we are standing up for God’s Truth even if it is rejected by others and we are rejected too.
We are to have Godly Pride not wordly pride , to have Godly Love for oneself is to take Pride in our position in Christ Jesus.
The two types of Pride, Godly Pride and worldly or fleshy pride.
What Worldly pride is…
Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
1 John 2:15- 17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the Pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
What Godly Pride is …
Galatians 6: 4 Each one should understand their own actions. Then they can take Pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to others.
2 Corinthians 8:24 show these men the proof of your Love and the reason for our Pride in you, so that the Churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 5:11-12 Because we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. It is plain to God what we are, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are giving you an opportunity to take Pride in us not trying to commend ourselves again to you , so that you have an answer for those who take Pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
Romans 11:13b I take Pride in my Ministry.
As a Christian I also take Godly Pride in my Ministry to those who are in darkness, and rejoice with those who are not as I’m sure you do too Angie.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
May 29, 2012 @ 23:44:14
Thanks for sharing Anne. Good to see you back :)
May 29, 2012 @ 22:20:40
I was talking with someone today and he asked me “can pride ever be a good thing” So, what do you think? Are there any ways pride is a good thing?
May 29, 2012 @ 23:42:09
I suppose it could, but I seldom see good in it. Pride in our God? I think maybe that would have a different name than ‘pride’. Interesting question to ponder :)