Have you ever just had one of those moments where you were feeling yourself? I’m talking about a time where you were feeling so good about you that couldn’t nobody tell you nothing because you already knew that you were all that and a bag of chips.
Fresh outfit/hairstyle because you're heading out or it's a special occasion and you know you look good from head to toe so you naturally take on an overconfident persona and feel inclined to flex (show off). Nice body because of the work you've been putting in non stop through your workout regimen and now you have the figure/body type you’ve always desired so you’ve taken on an arrogant demeanor and find it necessary to constantly show off your new figure. Proud about your profession because the title that you have, the company that you work with, or the salary that you make is what you’ve always wanted and you’re feeling like you’ve finally made it so you gradually begin to become boastful in spirit.
Fresh outfit/hairstyle because you're heading out or it's a special occasion and you know you look good from head to toe so you naturally take on an overconfident persona and feel inclined to flex (show off). Nice body because of the work you've been putting in non stop through your workout regimen and now you have the figure/body type you’ve always desired so you’ve taken on an arrogant demeanor and find it necessary to constantly show off your new figure. Proud about your profession because the title that you have, the company that you work with, or the salary that you make is what you’ve always wanted and you’re feeling like you’ve finally made it so you gradually begin to become boastful in spirit.
| I have been able to identify with each one of the examples above at a given time in my life and what I have come to recognize over time is that God has a funny way of checking us if we can’t check ourselves and remain humble (take a moment to listen to the audio on the right). |
Today, I want to inform you that God is not impressed by your “all that and a bag of chips” attitude. To those of you who are taking full credit for your blessings/accomplishments without paying homage to God, continuously taking on an egotistical mindset, or who loves to flaunt it because every now and then you feel like with where you are, how you look, you are all that and a bag of chips and you're feeling yourself, consider this blog a reminder that humility is key in every area of your life. God will show favor to those who are humble at all times (James 4:6 NIV).
Every week I like to try to get together with one of my friends to have bible study and pray. It gets tricky with our schedules so if we can’t do it in person, from time to time we do video chats from our homes, studying God's word together and praying. Last month after attending a bible study at church that Kirk Franklin came to, I felt a sudden surge of energy to call my friend afterward and let her know that I was coming over because we had to have an emergency bible study, praying and reading the bible that night.
There was something so powerful that resonated with me that I still remember hearing Kirk Franklin mention in church that night. He said, “when you realize that you are disposable you will stay humble….humility is a reminder that you are disposable and that God does not need you, you need God.” This statement immediately made me feel some sort of conviction for every time in my life that I ever became overconfident, too prideful, or simply thought too highly of myself while placing God on the back burner. Hearing that statement drove me to a certain depth of understanding about humility that I had never been exposed to my entire life and it made me want to spend time outside of church connecting with God and learning more about humility immediately.
That same night, while my friend and I were studying God’s word and I spoke to her about how I was feeling, she directed me to Daniel 4:28-37 (MSG), the story about how God checked King Nebuchadnezzar because the King thought he was all that and a bag of chips.
Every week I like to try to get together with one of my friends to have bible study and pray. It gets tricky with our schedules so if we can’t do it in person, from time to time we do video chats from our homes, studying God's word together and praying. Last month after attending a bible study at church that Kirk Franklin came to, I felt a sudden surge of energy to call my friend afterward and let her know that I was coming over because we had to have an emergency bible study, praying and reading the bible that night.
There was something so powerful that resonated with me that I still remember hearing Kirk Franklin mention in church that night. He said, “when you realize that you are disposable you will stay humble….humility is a reminder that you are disposable and that God does not need you, you need God.” This statement immediately made me feel some sort of conviction for every time in my life that I ever became overconfident, too prideful, or simply thought too highly of myself while placing God on the back burner. Hearing that statement drove me to a certain depth of understanding about humility that I had never been exposed to my entire life and it made me want to spend time outside of church connecting with God and learning more about humility immediately.
That same night, while my friend and I were studying God’s word and I spoke to her about how I was feeling, she directed me to Daniel 4:28-37 (MSG), the story about how God checked King Nebuchadnezzar because the King thought he was all that and a bag of chips.
“All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Just twelve months later, he was walking on the balcony of the royal palace in Babylon and boasted, ‘Look at this, Babylon the great! And I built it all by myself, a royal palace adequate to display my honor and glory!’
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice out of heaven spoke, ‘This is the verdict on you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your kingdom is taken from you. You will be driven out of human company and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The sentence is for seven seasons, enough time to learn that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts whomever he wishes in charge.’
It happened at once. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human company, ate grass like an ox, and was soaked in heaven’s dew. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a hawk. ‘At the end of the seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven. I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever: His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, his kingdom never declines and falls. Life on this earth doesn’t add up to much, but God’s heavenly army keeps everything going. No one can interrupt his work, no one can call his rule into question.
At the same time that I was given back my mind, I was also given back my majesty and splendor, making my kingdom shine. All the leaders and important people came looking for me. I was reestablished as king in my kingdom and became greater than ever. And that’s why I’m singing—I, Nebuchadnezzar—singing and praising the King of Heaven: Everything he does is right, and he does it the right way. He knows how to turn a proud person into a humble man or woman.’”
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice out of heaven spoke, ‘This is the verdict on you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your kingdom is taken from you. You will be driven out of human company and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The sentence is for seven seasons, enough time to learn that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts whomever he wishes in charge.’
It happened at once. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human company, ate grass like an ox, and was soaked in heaven’s dew. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a hawk. ‘At the end of the seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven. I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever: His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, his kingdom never declines and falls. Life on this earth doesn’t add up to much, but God’s heavenly army keeps everything going. No one can interrupt his work, no one can call his rule into question.
At the same time that I was given back my mind, I was also given back my majesty and splendor, making my kingdom shine. All the leaders and important people came looking for me. I was reestablished as king in my kingdom and became greater than ever. And that’s why I’m singing—I, Nebuchadnezzar—singing and praising the King of Heaven: Everything he does is right, and he does it the right way. He knows how to turn a proud person into a humble man or woman.’”
Since I only post one blog a month and this will be my last official post of 2015 I want to stress the importance in humility to each one of you reading this blog. Whatever it is that you have been prideful, overconfident, boastful or cocky about, God wants you to leave it behind in 2015 and begin to embody humility in every area of your life. In 2016, humility will be the key to your prosperity. If you continue to keep your prideful ways and do not check them at the door now, God will depose you and strip you of His glory in the way that he did King Nebuchadnezzar. So in other words, stop thinking you’re all that and a bag of chips because just as quickly as God blessed you with whatever it is that’s got you feeling some type of way, God has the power to take it away. Stay humble.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I humbly come before you recognizing that I am disposable and that my need for you is eternal. Thank you for loving me through the stages in my life when my pride got too big and you had to check me. Thank you for still blessing me even when you knew I did not deserve to be blessed due to my pride Lord. Thank you for caring about me enough to take me through life experiences to keep my spirit humble when I was too ignorant to take note in my lack of humility. I love you, I adore you, and I give you glory God. Forgive me for my lack of humility in the past, my lack of humility that I may be ignorant about in the present and my lack of humility that may even try to sneak up on me in my future.
Today I pray a prayer for humility in every area of my life. Continue to keep my spirit humble and let humility be a reflection of my character Lord. Bless me with a distinctive meekness about myself that will always remind me that you are the King of all Kings who reigns. You reign over my victory, you reign over my success, you reign over my accomplishments, you reign over my opportunities of leisure, you reign over my body, you reign over my mind, you reign over my soul, you reign over me God and let this never be forgotten no matter how high the things of this world may place me or make me feel. Strip away any and everything within me that does not resemble humility and continue to build me up into the humble being of God that you created me to be. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
I humbly come before you recognizing that I am disposable and that my need for you is eternal. Thank you for loving me through the stages in my life when my pride got too big and you had to check me. Thank you for still blessing me even when you knew I did not deserve to be blessed due to my pride Lord. Thank you for caring about me enough to take me through life experiences to keep my spirit humble when I was too ignorant to take note in my lack of humility. I love you, I adore you, and I give you glory God. Forgive me for my lack of humility in the past, my lack of humility that I may be ignorant about in the present and my lack of humility that may even try to sneak up on me in my future.
Today I pray a prayer for humility in every area of my life. Continue to keep my spirit humble and let humility be a reflection of my character Lord. Bless me with a distinctive meekness about myself that will always remind me that you are the King of all Kings who reigns. You reign over my victory, you reign over my success, you reign over my accomplishments, you reign over my opportunities of leisure, you reign over my body, you reign over my mind, you reign over my soul, you reign over me God and let this never be forgotten no matter how high the things of this world may place me or make me feel. Strip away any and everything within me that does not resemble humility and continue to build me up into the humble being of God that you created me to be. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.