Gloryyyyyy
Recently I finished reading "The Iliad", and that got me thinking about how much the warriors in the story sought their own glory. A lot of times, I do things to glorify myself without even realizing it. I'm not intentionally trying to say, "Hey, look at how great I am!" but that pride is still there. God has been dealing with me lately about giving Him all the glory. Every time I give glory to myself, I am taking glory away from God, and that is NEVER ok. John 8:54 says, "Jesus answered, 'If I glorify myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'"
Now note, this is Jesus speaking. If anyone had a reason to glorify themselves, Jesus did. Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, He cast out demons, He raised the dead, He Himself was raised from the dead, yet in all of this, He pointed to the Father. 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you."
The word humble, (tapeinoo in Greek) according to "HELPS Word-studies" is described for the believer as what "happens by being fully dependent on the Lord - dismissing reliance upon self and emptying carnal ego. This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us."
That's really beautiful. I've got to be full of something! If I'm not full of God, then what am I full of? I've had to be more intentional, especially in my prayers, that I'm not just praying for myself. If I'm just praying for myself and my own interests, I'm probably full of myself. Don't misinterpret this. It's OK to pray for yourself, but if that's all your praying, it's probably time to reevaluate where you're coming from. Is the ultimate goal to give God glory, or to make myself look good? I hope this gets your wheels turning this morning, just like it has mine!
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
