May 4

Moments with God, May 4

James 4:5-6 (CJB) But the grace he gives is greater, which is why it says, “God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace.”

The day began with my spending time with the Lord and thanking Him for another day in which to honor Him. I had several tasks before me, so I had an idea as to how the day would proceed. As the morning progressed, I heard of plans that did not involve me but would affect me. The more I thought about that, the more concerned I became. Without consciously making adecision, that “concern” began to replace my morning commitment to honor Jesus. The more I would entertain that news, the more upset I would become. Before I went too far in the wrong direction, I heard the Lord say, “Your pride has been wounded.”

That revelation stopped me in my tracks. I realized that pride can be hurt, wounded, insulted, and challenged. Nothing that I had heard had any direct implications for me. Therefore, I had no reason to be worried or upset. My pride, however, was worried because it felt it was being slighted. It was pride that was taking my attention away from the Lord. Now I better understand why the Lord opposes the arrogant or the proud. Pride demands to sit on the throne of our lives and, so, opposes Jesus. Humility, however, kneels before the Lord Who truly sits on the throne and enables us to keeps our hearts and minds focused on Him. He gives grace to the humble because humility looks to the Lord for direction. Unlike pride, humility cannot be hurt. It cannot become angry, wounded, or insulted because it does not seek its way; it seeks Jesus’s way. As I turned from the pride that had been “wounded” and began to thank Jesus for all He has done for me, my day changed because my heart changed. Jesus walked in humility; thus, others could never provoke Him. We are to follow in His steps.