Challenge Part II - That Yucky Thing Called Pride



Photo Courtesy ... Dan

"Humility means continual death of self.  Continual death of self perfects humility.  God honors obedience, not the strife of the flesh.  What you tolerate in the flesh, you will not get rid of - despise your chains." -Jackie Jacobson

Pride is an ongoing struggle that we all face and I feel it is appropriate to touch on it in this series.  I think you will see (and maybe be surprised) how working through pride can help in our journey toward intimacy with Christ.  It is a constant battle in my life and something that takes daily work ...  As a teenager I used pride to cover up my insecurities and make myself feel superior over others.  This carried over into my adult life and I only recently realized that I wasn't just making myself "feel good" ... I was struggling with pride and it was a serious stronghold in my life. 

"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." Romans 12:3

Comparing myself with others around me I struggled with feelings of insecurity and insignificance.  I was always concerned with what everyone else was doing and more importantly what they thought of me.  I remember telling people who were nervous about going into certain situations to just "follow my lead" and walk into the room and act like a complete snob.  I would instruct, "Act superior to everyone else and look down on them and then not only will those around you feel insignificant, you will feel power."  How terrible is that?!  Unfortunately I believed in this method and used it for years.  My pride went on to manifest itself in new ways as I dealt with different insecurities.  When I began to feel inferior I shut out friends and built walls around myself so it was impossible for them to get in.  I would do things to purposely hurt others so that I wouldn't feel hurt.  [Sigh] ... Sadly, I played this sick cycle game for a long time. 

I took a class last year and one of the topics we discussed was pride.  As the instructor went on and on, I sank further and further into my chair.  My pride was so much deeper than I realized.  It had destroyed friendships and caused much discord.  Areas in which I believed I was stronger and more secure were actually areas of weakness and insecurity.  Pride was not a handle to hold myself up with but merely a stumbling block that was constantly causing me to fall down.  I truly hadn't realized that what I was doing was prideful ... I believed I was surviving the best way I knew how ... I was protecting myself.  Wrong!  I was only hindering myself from discovering the joys that Jesus had for me.  Pride is a serious sin that everyone struggles with in some way or another.  Maybe you do not struggle with pride to the extreme that I had, but I know that there isn't one of you out there that hasn't dealt with it in some fashion at some point in your life. 

Why is pride so awful?  How does it keep us from intimacy with Christ?  What's the big deal?  In the Bible we are called to follow Christ's example by loving as He loves and living as He lived.   When we let foolish pride take over our hearts we are keeping Christ at arms length which leaves Him unable to work at His full potential in our lives. "As believers we are called to exercise humility, self control and meekness. It is humility that triggers God's power to manifest" -Jackie Jacobsen. Christ can do amazing things in our life when we humble ourselves at His feet.  

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10

By humbling ourselves we are admitting to Him that we need Him and that we cannot face our struggles and insecurities alone.  So many of us would like to think that we can handle this life without help, but if we are honest with ourselves we know it is impossible to live a fulfilling life without Him.  When we submit our pride to Him we allow ourselves to grow in relationship with Him.  As we grow in relationship with Him we learn to depend on Him for support and security rather than our own methods.  We also grow in our relationships with others. 

The chief characteristic and root of Jesus' humble character was that He constantly concealed His worth. Being completely stripped and humbled before His Father first and foremost, made it possible for Him to take a humble position before men as a servant. Without the humble and lowly position Jesus took before man there would be: no possibility of sinlessness or righteousness, no crucifixion- no perfect blood sacrifice- no redemption for mankind, and no healings or deliverances; no words of prophecy, knowledge or miracles. - Jackie Jacobson.

Pride is something that will always be a constant battle in our lives.  We need to be adamantly aware of it and put a stop to it when it starts to manifest in our everyday situations.  It can come in big waves like the ways that I mentioned I dealt with it.  But it can also strike in small, less noticeable ways.  I fall under several of the categories of prideful behavior below ... where do you fall?  Do you find yourself constantly giving your own two cents (aka, the know it all)?  When others share with you about their own life do you find yourself comparing your own stories and situations without listening to what they are saying?  Do you struggle with jealousy?  Do you struggle with unhealthy rivalry?  Are you able to give yourself to Jesus, but find it hard to give yourself to others?  Do you drop influential names and connections?  Is it hard for you to take correction or submit to authority?  Do you flaunt money or possessions?

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank)." Luke 14:11 AMP

Challenge:  Day one, go one hour without talking about yourself.  Stay in communication with others but take time to listen to them without bringing up your own experiences even if they are they similar to the story you are listening to.  Do not compare, complain or give advice- just listen.  Day two, repeat the above for half of the day.  Day three, go the entire day doing this.  This small lesson in learning to put others first and setting ourselves aside is hard but it allows us to practice replacing pride with humility.  Watch how people respond when you give them your all.  As we learn to submit our pride in small ways we become more aware when it creeps up in larger ways.  I am going to practice this too and will be sharing and I am so anxious to hear how this experiment goes for you too!  Share your experiences, please!

Prayer:  LORD, I ask that You reveal to me all of the ways that pride is influencing my everyday life.  Please forgive me for the ways that I have allowed pride to rule in my life.  Forgive my unwillingness to let go of self.   Help me to be able to humbly submit my pride at your feet.  Please give me the strength to tackle this difficult area and help keep me on the path to righteousness.  I pray God, that you heal the areas in my life that cause me to be prideful ... shine your grace and forgiveness on me and allow me to experience Your joyful filling up of the Holy Spirit.  Continue to walk with me and lead me to the places where I can grow deeper in my relationship with You.  Amen.

Quotations and italicized segments other then verses and the prayer are taken from Jackie Jacobson's Led By The Spirit book.

Challenge Part I - Prioritizing Him

So my journey begins ... I am eagerly seeking to grow closer and develop a deeper relationship with my God.  There is so much that I know I need to do to achieve this but where to start?  Well, I started with the most obvious - making time for Him! 

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming." Psalm 27: 8

I have a confession to make ... I sleep with my phone next to my bed.  It is the last thing I look at before I go to sleep.  Before I even sit up in bed in the morning I reach over and pick it up to check my email.  Then I go on to look at facebook and then I lazily roll out of bed and scramble to get the kids and myself ready for the day.  I go crazy if I can't check my email right away ... don't even ask how often I check my email throughout the day.  Sadly, I have made technology an idol in my life.  It has come before almost everything and I am not proud to say that.  I badly need to get my priorities in order!  If I checked in with God as often as I do my email and  facebook, I can't even imagine how much deeper my relationship with Him would be. 

So, the very first thing I am doing is keeping my phone plugged into my kitchen wall at night- not next to my bed.  This way I will not need to check in before bed and will not have immediate access to it right away in the morning.  Also, I have pledged to [gulp] get up early every morning during the week to do quiet time.  It is the only time of the day when I can be totally alone in silence to spend quality time with Him.  Today my alarm went off at 6:15 and I sleepily got up, avoided the phone and made my way to my living room couch where I did day one of quiet time. 

Here are my thoughts on the importance of prioritizing Him better ... and trust me when I say I am reaffirming this lesson for myself more then anyone else.  As my bible foot notes put it, "The decision to follow Jesus should not be put off, even though other loyalties compete for our attention."  I really struggle with slowing down.  I am such a go, go, go person and although I try to make what I am doing about Him I fail to actually "check in with headquarters" as often as I should.  How can I make my ministry, my everyday, my life about Him when I fail to put Him first?  I need to be filled up with Him if I want to be my best for the world especially if what I am doing is for His glory.  It is going to be so hard to slow down and rearrange my crazy schedule but doesn't He deserve my best? 

Just think, if we are worn down by life, struggling to make it through each day how much better equipped will we be if we start out  by seeking Him?  I firmly believe that by giving Him the first part of my day He will in turn not only give me blessings but also make time for everything else I need to get through that day.  It's like a balancing act- the scale will always be tipped if I am racing to be super mom, super wife, super writer, super everything all on my own ... I can't possibly keep up.  But if I have Him on my side, making Him my number one I think that the scale will be balanced.  I can accomplish more, achieve my goals and grow in leaps and bounds if I seek and allow Him to guide me. 

"Trust Me enough to spend ample time with Me, pushing back the demands of the day.  Refuse to feel guilty about something that is so pleasing to Me, the King of the universe.  Because I am omnipotent, I am able to bend time and events in your favor.  You will find that you can accomplish more in less time, after you have given yourself to Me in rich communion." -Jesus Calling, Sarah Young

Challenge:  I challenge that you sacrifice a part of your day to spend time with Him.  Whether that means getting up a little early, staying up a little late, changing your lunch break routine, etc.  MAKE time to spend with Him.  Read a bible passage or a couple pages of a good devotional.  Give Him precious time in prayer and communication.  You might not see amazing works happen right away but pay attention to what little things change throughout your day.  YES, it will be hard to adjust to making this change.  YES, it may disrupt your schedule and seem inconvenient.  I promise though, you will be rewarded and this is the best first step to deepening your relationship with Him.  Please share what changes you notice as you follow through with this challenge!

Prayer: LORD, I yearn to grow into a more intimate relationship with You.  Please help me to make time for you today, tomorrow and this week. Help me to realize the importance of making You my first priority each day.  I ask that You reveal yourself to me and shine Your face upon me.  Deepen my desire to seek You and give me the strength to follow your guidance.  Give me ears to hear Your words and eyes to see Your works in my life.  Thank You for Your loving patience and for never giving up on me.  Amen.

Photo Credit- http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1701

Featuring Heather Aynne and Serve One Another In Love

My Church Doesn’t Look Like That...


This past weekend, I attended a church growth summit. The theme of the summit was tipping the cows that hinder the growth of your church. The very first cow that needed to be tipped was the “my church doesn’t look like that” cow.

How would you react if you saw someone walk into your shirt wearing a tank top, shorts and bare feet? If you wouldn’t bat an eye, kudos to you! I can tell you from my what happened to me yesterday that walking in that way can be a very intimidating experience, especially if your church has a “mature population.” Some people didn’t notice what I was wearing, but I noticed a number of people who gave me disapproving glances as they walked past me. And this is as an established member of the church. Perhaps their knowledge of me and the memory that I stood before them the week before wearing a nice suit skewed their impression but I didn’t feel terribly welcome.

Luckily, many churches have begun to adopt a more casual dress code for Sunday worship. While some people may feel that this is disrespectful to God, I think it’s positive in the sense that a guest walking through the doors for the first time will not be intimidated by feeling under-dressed. If you see the story I posted today on Serve One Another in Love, you will see that even some pastors have cast aside their robes and suits to place them on the same level as their congregation.

If your church is still slightly more formal, I challenge you to dress down for church next week. Wear something that you would never think to wear to church and see how you are received. If you feel uncomfortable, I would encourage you to mention that to your church and explain how their views and reactions are holding the church back from growing. More importantly, they may be driving people out of the church who are in desperate need of the lessons that are being taught. If you attend a casual church, perhaps next week is the week to go all out and dress nicer than you ever would. Judging others based on how they dress when they walk through the doors is a problem at both ends of the spectrum.

It seems like common sense that we would accept guests for who they are but we are often clouded by our own perceptions of what our church looks like. In order to open our doors wide and accept everyone, we need to tip the cow of our own views and simply thank God that He led them to your church family.

Throughout this week, I am going to be posting more information that may help you help your church experience growth in a time when every day there are churches closing their doors. We all need to start taking action if we want God’s kingdom to thrive!

By Heather Aynne
serveinlove.net

Are You Up For A Challenge?

I recently heard about a book called Radical by David Platt.  I have not read the book although hearing what the author is challenging people to do moved me ...  "Take back your faith from the American Dream."   The American Dream ... doesn't that represent everything that we live and work for here in the United States?  Isn't the idea of the American Dream meant to inspire and motivate, not only us citizens, but people world wide who have hope for a brighter future?  It's painted on billboards, portrayed in movies and written about in books ... who would want anything more then to achieve the goal that we all desperately strive for?  I am not promoting this book as I have not read it.  I think it would be wonderful to read sometime and I have heard amazing things regarding it although the book is not what I am writing about today- just the idea of taking back our faith ... taking it back from whatever it is that is overshadowing it.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). 


I have felt a relentless desire to grow deeper in my relationship with God.  I love Him.  I want my life's work to revolve around Him and bringing others to Him.  I know He desires more of me then I am currently giving.  Right now my walk is less exciting and moving then what I would like for it to be.  Life is going wonderfully.  I am busy doing things that I love doing and all because He has blessed me with amazing opportunities- He is beginning to lead me down a path that I have been prayerful about for so long.  I am just missing one little thing ... fulfillment in my everyday walk.  I know that He not only wants me to be happy and content, but to be filled to the brim- overflowing with Him.  I desire for that fire, that excitement that can hardly be contained!

So, in my quest to light that fire and grow deeper in relationship with Him I have decided to challenge myself.  I have identified some of the major areas that I feel keep me and others from getting closer to Him.  Yes, there are things that I am not thrilled to work on ... things that will take even more of my time and energy, but I know it will all be worth it in the end.  I know that I can be better then I am now if I strive to be the best that I can be for Him; that means giving Him my all- not just my leftovers.  I am really excited to start this journey and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me.  How much more will I experience when I am giving Him my all? 

Maybe you are in a great place and life is going well.  Maybe you aren't and your life is in turmoil and distress.  Maybe you're simply bored in your everyday walk.  Maybe you're desperately seeking. We are all in different places spiritually but I believe that we can ALL do more to grow in our faith.  Take back your faith!  Take it back from whatever is keeping it from being what it is meant to be.  Take it back from your desire to achieve success and the American Dream. Take it back from depression. Take it back from fear. Take it back from the boring and mundane.  Take it back from self service.  Take it back from the easy going.  Take back your faith!  What can God do when we give Him our all?  What can we experience?  How can we grow?  I am up for the challenge and I hope that you are too!  It excites me so much to think of the possibilities  ... I am expecting the unexpected and eager to follow where He leads. 

I will be doing short devotionals on different areas of struggle and will finish each off with a challenge for you and I to pursue.  I would love to hear your thoughts along the way.  Where are you struggling?  What is He doing in your life as you challenge yourself to take back your faith?  What praises do you have to share?  I ask that you prayerfully consider journeying through this with me.  Leave me a comment on Inspiring Excellence's facebook page letting me know that you are taking the challenge!  We can encourage each other along the way. 

Take back your faith and watch your life radically change!

Featuring ... Fancy Little Things!

This week I am excited to feature Fancy Little Things!  This blog is a wealth of information for women which features multiple different topics - there is something to meet everyones interests!  Please stop by FancyLittleThings.com and check out all they have to offer.  You won't leave dissapointed!

About Fancy Little Things:

FancyLittleThings.com is a brand new blog featuring 8 topics for women: Projects, Home & Garden, Faith, Relationships, Food, Health, Style & a Book of the Month. This blog is the idea of Editor & Projects Author, Aimee Steckowski of byAimee.com. She’s a writer & website developer with a passion to encourage woman to share their ideas and for small businesses & entrepreneurs to be successful. Also, selfishly, Aimee was eager to find a place to share her simple craft projects & connect with a bigger community. She rallied her friends & mom to take on a topic that they felt passionate about and to begin sharing their thoughts, ideas & photos!

Each day of the week focuses on a different topic:

• All project tutorials, project giveaways and other fun handmade-related things will always be posted on Monday.
• Tuesdays will feature our Home & Garden topic where you will see different projects & décor ideas for both the interior & exterior of your home.
• Each Wednesday will be a guest-featured series on Faith; a Bible study series, sharing of their personal story connected with Bible verses or a chance to dig a little deeper in your Christian walk.
• We have Relationships on Thursday that will answer reader’s questions 3 weeks each month.
• Friday is all about FOOD! Recipes, kitchen gadgets, how-to’s and ideas for how to feed a family on a regular budget!
• The end the week with Health & Wellness tips, exercise advice and activities on Saturday.
• Style will make a splash on Sundays with tricks and ideas to be trendy, modern & still keep your personal style at the forefront.
• Our Book of the Month will be featured on Saturdays a few time each month. A new book will be introduced along with discussion questions and other reading-related articles.

You are sure to find something on this blog for you! You can check them out by going to their website, subscribing to their blog, “liking” them on Facebook or following them on Twitter.

Am I Waiting For God or Is He Waiting For Me?

"But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (closer to God) like eagles.  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired" -Isaiah 40:31 AMP.

I have journeyed a long road in trying to figure out who I am, what I am meant to be, where I am supposed to go.  I knew He had amazing plans for my life, but what those were exactly was a mystery to me.  After wishing and hoping that God would reveal to me His great plan for my life and then not seeing any results, I became discouraged.  Why was it so hard to find the answers to my questions? 

After reading Isaiah 40:31 many times and really applying myself and my life to it, I gradually began to see that it would take more then "wishing" to get to where I wanted to be.  Those who expect something to grow or happen over night are foolish and I had been that fool.  Faith comes gradually and by practice. When we plant a seed does it sprout as we sleep that very same night? No, we must care for it by watering it and giving it sun light.  It is a continued cycle of dedicated time and attention. If we devote our efforts to this plant, we can proudly watch it sprout, grow and become something beautiful and fruitful.  If we neglect it, it withers away to nothing.

The same goes with our faith.  I had been expecting to grow by starving myself spiritually and became frustrated when I didn't get the immediate answers that I was after.  I can understand Jesus, love Him, desire to be in relationship with Him, but if I'm not willing to do what it takes to have relationship with Him I am lost.  In Revelation 3:20 Jesus calls out to us saying, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  If I'm not willing to open the door, how will I have community with Him?  After all, Jesus never forces His way in, we must invite Him. 

By learning to expect, look for, listen and hope my faith began to grow exponentially.  It is exciting  knowing all that can happen and be revealed by Him by simply following through and giving myself ample opportunity to learn and grow.  We aren't born mature Christian individuals.  Hearing God's voice takes practice.  Without really learning to tune into Him and listen to His words, we cannot honestly hear Him.  When we are open and willing He can work in marvelous ways!   Can I now see every step where He is leading me?  No, but aren't we called to walk by faith?  Do I know exactly the plans He has laid out for me?  Not exactly but I have a better idea.   I am at peace knowing that His plans will come to life and in the meantime I am loving the growth and closeness of our relationship.

Do you struggle with figuring out the plans God has for your life?  Do you feel like you are stumbling around in the dark waiting for Him to shine the light down on you?  I encourage you to invite Jesus in and find new ways to grow in Him.  Try a new bible study, read a new book in the bible that you have never read, start a journal (!), try out expecting Him to move in your life rather then wishing, read one encouraging verse every morning before you start your day, ask Him to reveal Himself to you everyday ... there a many ways to grow, you just need to find them and dedicate yourself to them- then watch things happen!

Give Away Winner ...

Heather at serveinlove.net ... you are the winner!!!  Thanks to everyone for your comments and everything ... I hope you enjoyed learning more about some of the different names of God.  I encourage you all to read the book Trusting In The Names Of God by Catherine Martin ... it is seriously life changing and can deepen your relationship with Him so much.  Stay tuned for more give aways to come at the end of April! 

I can't wait to feature Heather ... be sure to check her out at Inspiring Excellence soon!