Hello all! Happy Sunday! I am sort of dreading going back to the drudgery of school (kidding of course, but then again maybe not). Sometimes the weight of all that I need to do just kind of overwhelms me, and I feel heavy burdened and uneasy. I do online school, and it is a very rigorous kind, so it can be taxing at times. At least once a week, I just collapse under the pressure I put on myself.
It is ridiculous of how much the perfectionist in me comes to light. But of course, that is my sin nature, because He does NOT want us to worry and stress over every little thing. He says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light! So why do we make it that way? Why do we force ourselves into thinking that IT MUST BE A CERTAIN WAY, and if it isn't, then we feel frustrated about it.
A lot of times for me, it is because of my impenetrable pride. I know that when I feel convicted of how much I rely on my abilities, I convince myself that God wants me to do my best, and He wants me to use all of my abilities. True, of course, but He doesn't want me to use the abilities He has GIVEN me to be my stronghold and my sense of protection. He is already there to do that, I don't even have to provide that for myself.
Or sometimes, I reassure myself that I have tried and tried and tried to change how much pride I have, and apparently all my hard work is just not cutting it. Oh well, better luck next time I think of it! Seriously? Give me a break. Yeah, probably the reason that I can't shake this pride is because I can't shake the wanting to always do things without help, which is the source of pride! It is a circle, round and round it goes. Although I think I do, in my heart I really don't want God to help me. I feel that it shows that I am not capable on my own, and that all I am is not sufficient. Which it is NOT.
With all that being said, pride is a hard thing to deal with just on your own. Chances are, if you do it by yourself, you won't let go of this putrid thing that is clinging to you. Think of it this way. You have a shirt that you love the design and the message it portrays, but it has never looked good on you, it was always kind of baggy! And as you wore it again and again and again, it started to look even worse on you. It was kind of becoming see through in some spots, and frayed at the edges. You tried to mend it and what not, but it wouldn't work. You even tried to shrink it in dryer, but it wouldn't work. Nothing would make it the same as it originally was (even though it wasn't great in the beginning). It is still the go to shirt of your wardrobe; but one day you just decide you HAVE to let it go. You do! But, you don't forget that shirt, and sometimes you regret that you ever threw it away. Although you think of all the fun times you have had in that shirt, you look back at the pictures of yourself with the shirt on and you gasp. They look TERRIBLE!
This long and drawn out metaphor is this: the shirt is pride. The design, or message of the "shirt" is that you have everything together. You try and show the world that you have no insecurities, that your life is in shape and you try to make your abilities shine through. But as this garment of pride keeps on being used, it gets holes in it where people can actually tell that not everything is great for you. They know that this isn't something that really is supposed to be on you, and that it does not fit your God-given personality. So, you try and shrink it! YOU try YOUR hardest to make it smaller so that it fits better within your life, and looks more attractive. But, because you are trying to get rid of it by yourself, it doesn't work. So, ask God to help you to throw it away, and He WILL! And one day, when it is something that is gone from your life, you will look back at the times when you exercised pride regularly, and remember how empty you felt after all the accolades had ended. And you are SO happy that you finally let it go.
Pride is something that I think we all have to overcome, and as I am not perfect, I struggle with it DAILY! It is something that really plagues my soul. But I know that if I truly surrender it, He WILL take it. But my worldly flesh tells me not yet, it's not quite time. And I believe the LIE. But there is redemption!
Here are some steps to overcome this!
1. PRAY. I know this either seems like common sense, or something that won't affect anything. But, the power of prayer is so crazy, you can't even believe it. Right now, just try it. Sit still, close your eyes, and think of Him. To get you "warmed up", just thank Him for everything you have! This will "posture" you, so that you can receive wholeness.
2. PRAY WITH AN OPEN HEART. Just ask Him to take it away. Don't make any excuses, and if you do, just ask Him to take those away too. This will clear everything up so that you can receive without any residue or resentment.
3. BE CLEAR. Be clear with what is going on in your life, and how you are affecting that. God already knows full well, but this will help you realize the situation without any bias.
4. WELCOME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. This will help you know what is right and true, because He knows all things! He can wipe away anything, or He can bring anything into your life. He can take away resentment, hatred, PRIDE, and can plant in love, happiness, HUMILITY, and peace.
5. KNOW THAT IT IS GOD. No second guessing here. We know He is here here in our lives, and we must recognize this. If we don't, how are we going to satisfactorily tell others?
6. READ HIS WORD. It is a salve for wounds, and will help take all hurt and unhappiness away. It will keep you life in the PRESENCE OF GOD.
Although this is not a poof all trouble is gone formula, it is something that will help you to gain confidence in who God is, and that HE IS the Perfecter of our Faith, the Grand Surgeon, the Prince of Peace. And He WILL reign in you life! Don't you want that! Then join me please, in taking this stand to what the world says is right, and hold the lamp of the light!
Here is the verse of the post:
"The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the
word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my
ear to listen like one being instructed." Isaiah 50:4.
Although this may not seem related, it is. If we trust in Him, and let us guide our lives and take away all infirmities, whether it be physical or emotional, than He will give us all His wisdom.
Just ask.
And you WILL hear the whisper.
He's calling your name.
Will you answer?
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