Pride isn’t a flower I plant.
However it seems to be showing off amongst the other flowers in my life lately.
This morning I read about king Hezekiah.
“At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures…There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.” Isaiah 39: 1, 2b
Showing off.
How easy it is to do.
How dreadful the consequences.
In this case, Isaiah relates to the king the future.
He explains the country will be taken over by Babylon.
In my own life I have been praying about pride.
I’ve had my “showing off” moments far more often than I would like.
It has always created embarrassment.
I have prayed to be like Moses, the humblest man. (Numbers 12:3)
I wonder how pride grows amongst the flowers so quickly.
The motivation for showing off is to impress another, whether one or many.
Why do I feel I need to impress anyone?
Answer: because I have taken my eyes off the Father.
I have folded into listening to other’s criticism and have walked out feeling lack. So I work harder to impress.
Oh how foolish!
When all I need to do is walk daily with Jesus.
He knows me.
He loves me.
He doesn’t have to be impressed.
He restores my soul.
He mends my broken.
He is the reason I am anything.
If the Creator of the universe feels this way about me–Why am I trying to show off?
So I ask the Lord to uproot the pride and replace it with humility.
Deep breath.
Sigh.
“Lord, forgive me for my pride. Heal me from my hurt. I know those words were not meant to harm, only to guide, but I felt cut down instead. Please give me the ability to discern Your correction. Teach me how to be less sensitive to criticism. Help me to love no matter what. “
patientlyhopeful 