Humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23 NLT

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

James 4:1-10 NLT

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?  But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

************************************
Somewhere in the early 1980's I spoke in an evening church service to Cowden Lake Bible Church and the text of my talk was James chapter 4 verses 7-10.
About 30 years later I'm still learning this lesson. The way up is down. The verse in Proverbs this morning reminded me of that first sermon I'd preached as a teen.

The problem is that we don't believe it is true. We don't trust God.

Let me first remind you that it is first and foremost that you are to humble yourself before God. It is in the sight of God that you are to bend the knee. It should be easy, but we are head strong fools.

James points the finger and says with authority your problems are rooted in your pride. It is your pride that fuels your greed.  It is your pride that encourages your envy. Your pride causes you to harm your fellow man. Our pride tricks us into esteeming the praise of men more highly than the opinion of God, making us his enemy.
It is pride that convinces us that we know better than God. We'd stop the suffering, we'd heal the sick and lame and help the poor. If we were God, the world would be a better place. We'd rule it like we do our own little world. We'd bring order to everything. We'd be just. We'd judge the wicked.

Haven't you thought you knew what to do. Have you sat in judgement over your friend, family, or fellow christian? Haven't you spoke with confidence that you knew better than all the corrupt politicians? Haven't you laughed at the foolishness of the rich and famous because of course you'd not be as stupid?

Can't you see your pride?

(Of course you just need to be more assertive. You only need to speak up. You just need to take charge. You need to give people a piece of your mind. All you need to do is show them all how it is done.)

Listen to your heart. Hear your pride.

God is good. William is not good.
God is faithful and William is unfaithful.
God is just and William is unjust.
God is kind and William is unkind.

We need to see ourselves as we are before God.

We need to confess or pride and sin and praise God for his forgiveness.

Jesus humbled himself! Though he had no sin. Jesus humbled himself though he had all power. Jesus humbled himself though his plan is the most prefect plan. Jesus humbled himself though he had wealth beyond comprehension.

You and I are not greater than Jesus. So how can we too not so much more humble ourselves?

Take a good look at Jesus. Take a look at yourself.

Now get on your knees in humility and confess, repent and praise God Almighty righteous and good.

So do you agree that the highest purpose is praise and the biggest problem is pride?

Your feedback would be appreciated.
http://williambode.blogspot.co.uk/

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fromgroups#!topic/daily-verses_from_william/802TO0UoH0M

Still besotted the day after Valentine's Day.

Psalms 145:3 NLT

Great is the Lord ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.
*********************************

Besotted the day after Valentine's?

I wonder how many are still making the effort to express their love so deeply the day after Valentine's Day?

Psalm 145 is the love letter of someone who just can't get enough of his beloved. Are you so in love with God? Do you just go on and on and on about how great your God is?

No one can measure your greatness.

Read the Psalm pasted in full below and see if you too will fall in such deep love and admiration for your God.

Go on.

Love like this is not easily embarrassed. This God lover is convinced everyone should be as deeply moved as he is. He thinks everyone else should be talking about God.
God's greatness is all he can think about. He end up daydreaming about it all the time.
God is worthy of a song.
God is inspiration for a top ten list! Why stop there? Can you make a top one hundred great things about God list?

Every time I read this passage I'm encouraged to praise, to go overboard, to be OTT, about the wonderful things God has done.

When was the last time you could say enough good about God?

Do you have any insatiable appetites? Can you image if it was praise that you just can't get enough of. Could you be a glutton for glory, or an addict of adoration?

Oh Lord please convice is so deeply of your goodness that we too become besotted with your praise.

*********************************
Psalms 145:1-21 NLT

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. All of your works will thank you, Lord , and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord , and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.