Pride Cometh before A Fall

     When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I didn't have a full understanding of what was to come of me. However, what I quickly learned was that I was hurting really bad, and that I desperately wanted peace, and not that I had a full gist of what that meant. But in time, and by way of God's mercy on me, I learned that the condition of my life (chaos and suffering) was the result of living a self-centered and selfish life. It was all about me. So as I began walking with God, He began to show me just how prideful I really was. It was a horrible revelation, to say the least, yet liberating in so many ways. As a result of  God's truth, acknowledging this pride that longed to consume me, and being transparent with myself and God, I have experienced transformation and an abundance of healing.
     This pride is so deeply imbedded within my heart, mind and soul, that only when God revealed it could I receive some help and eventually develop solutions for the "Oh woe is me" and "Life is so unfair" blues. Self-pity, self-importance, self-centeredness, selfishness, sexual-immorality, self-righteousness, unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred, judgmentalism, and self-sufficiency all come from pride, and as we all have pride, it is a true wonder that we haven't totally annihilated each other as we live together on this planet. But even with all that God has shown me, the ugly head of pride always finds a way to rear itself back into my life, and usually with no knowledge or awareness on my part until Jesus reveals it. It usually comes in the form of anger, offense, impatience, quarreling, always wanting to be right and high expectations. I found out that anytime I turn my gaze away from God and turn it inward, its a done deal. I either want the easy way out, or I don't want to go the extra mile, or humility is the last resort or "I want every one to feel my pain and understand the unfairness that is my life" (boo-hoo).
    The truth is that when we put ourselves to the side and freely give to others all that God has extended to us, like mercy-forgiveness-grace-patience-tolerance-and kindness, AND when we keep a position of gratitude, AND refuse to place unrealistic expectations on others so that disappointment doesn't consume us, AND when we love others unconditionally without expecting anything in return, AND when we sacrifice and put others interests before our own, here is where we kill the Pride Monster. How do we kill it?? WE CUT OFF ITS AIR AND FOOD SUPPLY!!!
     Jesus tells His people, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Mark 8:34-37). In the name of Love and all that is Good, let's kill the pride monster lurking in all of us. Every day we must look inside and see where "self" is attempting to rule. Once we've spotted it, lets take out the big guns and put it to death. Be blessed!!

The Mercy of God

     We can best measure the mercy of God in our lives by how much we extend mercy to others. The Word of God says that "He who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7:47), but when we receive this abundance of forgiveness by way of Jesus' death on the cross, we can experience this forgiveness firsthand for ourselves, and only then can we extend it to others without measure. I experience forgiveness every day as I cry out to God and ask Him for mercy for the things that I do that aren't pleasing to Him and that can very well negatively impact others. But it breaks my heart when others can't do the same. When someone hurts me, for as much as I long to cut them off or out of my life, I find out that I can't. But as painful as this may be sometimes, God has still given me an appreciation for the ability to forgive. Although I hurt when people fail me, the truth is that everyone needs to be forgiven. Sometimes it makes me angry when I can't cut people off. It hurts when people aren't accountable for the hurt that they've caused me. But I'm learning more and more every day that their wrong is first against God, and that I'm secondary in the order of things.
     Mercy and forgiveness are so necessary in this life. There will always be someone in need of forgiveness. Sometimes that person is me. But I am grateful to be in this place of extending kindness and forgiveness to others because torment comes with unforgiveness when we can't let our offenses go. The injustice that comes from this life is inevitable and theres no way of getting around it. However, the greatest injustice ever to be experienced was by Jesus in that He never committed any wrongs against anyone, and yet His innocent blood was shed so that many could be reconciled to God. He blessed, anointed, healed, prayed for many, and even resurrected the dead, and yet they still killed Him.
     From the cross, nailed and bleeding to death, He prayed for His murderers and asked the Father to "Forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), and His example is one before millions, of mercy and goodness even when it is undeserved. Forgiveness is not for the "deserving", it is extended to those that can't help themselves. We are a people that are filled with pain and we are destructive in nature, mostly towards ourselves. But God saw fit to provide a way of mercy, and that way is through Jesus Christ. Let us love one another knowing that God loved us first. Be blessed!!!