Seven Degrees of Me

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Chronological Reading Plan Week 47

Chronological Reading Plan

Week 47
323. Acts 9-10
324. Acts 11-12
325. Acts 13-14
326. James
327. Acts 15-16
328. Galatians 1-3
329. Galatians 4-6

What are you wearing today?

I made this pic, lol.
The idea being put a reminder next to your jacket
that you can read before heading out each morning.

We read and prayed on 1 Peter 5:5 earlier this week: "...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another..." 1 Peter 5:5
And then, finding today's bible verse I thought of "put on" as "wearing" like clothing, which reminded me of God's message to "put on the whole armor of God" Ephesians 6:11 (As a reminder, read Ephesians 6:11-18).
What if we did that each morning? What if, before we walked out the door, we envisioned putting on all of these articles to prepare ourselves for going out into the world?
We would not only be prepared for spiritual battle but we would be the image-bearers that God intended us to be.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones,

holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,

kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Colossians 3:12 ESV

So, each day, remember to put on:

humility
compassionate heart
kindness
meekness
patience
belt of truth
breastplate of righteousness
shoes of readiness
shield of faith
helmet of salvation
sword of the Spirit

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Please join me this week in praying for humility, either for yourself or someone you know. If you don't know anyone who needs a dose of humility, then I humbly ask that you pray this for me.
I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Shedding pride

While looking for images to use this week, I came across this beautiful lion. Staring at it in the context of pride, I imagined a creature so very proud and one who is probably accustomed to getting whatever he wants. I feel he's angry or hurt maybe because of the pain on his face but his posture looks relaxed like maybe he's conflicted. There are gold marks radiating from his head and so I imagined his mighty roar being so strong that it caused some of his fur to fly out. Maybe that all sounds crazy, but I like to share all of it with you, the crazy and the sane. Anyway, horoscope-wise, I'm a Leo, a very proud lion(ess) who's always having to deal with pride and sometimes having to be reminded to let go of it. I may roar loudly as I work on this, fighting it till the end but eventually shed it all (until the next time).
I used to be so full of myself that even after God took me down a few notches I still fought the idea that He wanted me to obey certain people in my life, and that He wanted me to be a servant, doing whatever tasks He called me to do no matter how seemingly petty.
Then I met a woman a few years ago at my previous church and we were talking about obedience or something along those lines. I was being my normal prideful self saying something to the effect that I don't take orders from anybody (hopefully I didn't say that exactly) and she said she was proud to be a servant; that she felt honored to be called to serve God in this capacity.
That simple response fixed a lifetime of battles and miseries for me. That's when it finally sunk in. I had spent my whole life fighting to be in control, thinking I was somehow born to be something or someone "special" (are you hating me yet?) when in fact I had spent my entire life saying "no" to God. Wow! I am so embarrassed about the old me.
Needless to say, I still have prideful moments, but I'm more aware of them now and correct myself when I stray in that direction. I want to obey, to serve, which in turn brings honor to God. Non-Christians watch us, you know. We need to be on our game as much as possible, showing what an image-bearer of Christ looks like and acts like. We need to show them the peace and light that we carry within each of us.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:3-11 ESV
(The picture I used on Monday would have been perfect to go with this Bible verse)

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Friday, October 4, 2019

We are one

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you

not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

but to think with sober judgment,

each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 12:3 ESV
Verse 4 and 5 go on to say...

For as in one body we have many members,

and the members do not all have the same function,

so we, though many, are one body in Christ,

and individually members one of another.

One of the great things about the church we attend is the number of people who volunteer to serve. We each use our spiritual gifts as we minister to each other, to the community, and beyond. Although we are all individuals with different backgrounds and talents, we can work together and serve Christ in larger capacities than we could each do on our own. It's okay and necessary to be part of the greater good. We can accomplish a lot more together than we can alone. The goal is to bring glory to God.

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Thursday, October 3, 2019

A reward

Not that we should be humble in order to receive rewards/blessings, but God says that this is what the humble will receive.

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4 ESV

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Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Be humbled

This is what I was saying before. God has a way of humbling me when I get too full of myself. I'm always grateful.*

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:11 ESV

*Okay, if I'm being honest, I have to say that the gratefulness comes a day or two after. It's not immediate. That's about how long it takes me to lick my wounds and see God's hand at work. God is our Father. He corrects His children as needed. He is sovereign. God is good, all the time!

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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Clothe yourselves with humility

We don't like to get called out, do we? It hurts our pride. It's like falling down in front of a group of people and no matter how they react, our pride is bruised more than our body.
There have been several times I've gone to the Pastor to talk about something that's bothering me and he'll ask "Isn't that just pride?" My first reaction and immediate response are "No!," because for it to be pride means that it's on me and it's my attitude that needs to change. It means that I can't blame anyone else and that no excuse in the world is going to come off sounding like anything but a lame defense of my pride. I do try to argue it though because pride won't initially allow me to relent and accept defeat.
Eventually, I accept what he's said and realize that he's right (as usual). Once I relent, I feel lighter. I don't even realize how much it weighs me down until I let it go. Let go of pride and try strapping on humility instead. It will change everything.

...Clothe yourselves, all of you,

with humility toward one another, for

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5b ESV

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