Pride

"If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."  1 Corinthians 1:31 (The Message)

Oh how pride is one of those messy issues we'd rather not deal with!  It is certainly something God has placed on my heart more than once as I've prayed for Him to "Search me and know my heart; point out anything in me that offends You" (Psalm 139:23-24). 

A thought came to me as I meditated on the Lord this morning: pride stems from a lack of understanding. 

If I truly understood God's sovereignty; His reign, His power, His mightiness;

If I truly understood that it is the Holy Spirit who works through me, who empowers me to do God's work;

If I truly understood that, "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Romans 11:36) or that "By Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16),

there would be no issue of pride. 

If I boasted, I would boast only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all the times I have attempted to take credit for Your works.  Help me to realize that "apart from You, I can do nothing" (John15:5).  Help me to surrender myself to you daily so that Your power and Your glory may be revealed by the Holy Spirit working through me.