For the week of: Monday, March 19th 2007

"The One to Whom I Will Look"

At a recent all-night prayer vigil for the Women of Purpose Conference team, we listened to a teaching by C.J Mahaney taken from the writings of Isaiah.  Read with me:

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.  Where is the house you will build for me?  Where will my resting place be?  Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord.  This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”  

 I was so struck by the teaching on this subject of pride that I found myself dropping my head in convicted humility over and over again.  I share some thoughts from this teaching with you. This week, we will look at the Perils of Pride and the Promise of Humility.  Next week, Purposeful Application.

Perils of Pride

The first reference to pride occurs before creation when Satan boasted (Isaiah 14), “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

(Can you imagine such arrogance?  Doesn’t it make you cringe to even read the words?)

Pride is the essence of all sin.  In Proverbs 16:5, Solomon writes, “Pride is an abomination to the Lord.” 

Pride contends for supremacy with God.  Pride is when sinful humans aspire to the sovereign position of God.  I Peter 5 tells us that God opposes the proud.  Opposes is used as an active verb here.  God actively comes against pride.  (I ask myself a sobering question, “When do I prompt God to come against me due to my pride?”  I fall on my face in grief at this thought.)

The question is not IF pride exists in my heart, it’s WHERE does pride exist in my heart?  (I welcome Your search, O Lord.  For I want nothing to do with anything that is an abomination to You. that You come against or that vies for supremacy with You.)

Promise of Humility

Nothing escapes God’s notice, but one thing captures His attention – “This is the one to whom I will look.”  God is definitely, passionately, supportive of the humble.

Oh Father, I desire to draw Your attention to this vessel in which Your Spirit dwells due solely to the humble posture of my heart.  Search me out, and leave NO prideful thing in me.  Increase my discernment for the ways of my heart that cause prideful thoughts leading to prideful behavior.  Through the Name of the One who died sacrificially for me, Amen. 

Lovingly from my heart,

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