Becoming the Man God's Future Requires

Good morning, sir!

Welcome to day eighteen! Way to go! I trust these short devotionals are encouraging you. Won't you join me in prayer?

Lord, speak to my spirit as I pause this morning. Nourish my inner man with Your life. Wrap Yourself around my heart as I wait upon You! Amen!

Just a quick thought about that word wait. The Hebrew word qavah carries the idea of waiting with expectation and has been associated with strands being bound together. What a beautiful picture! Waiting upon the Lord isn't passive. “We pause, yield ourselves to Him, and allow His Spirit to intertwine our hearts with His, drawing us into deeper union with Him!”

Another incredible subject Pastor Paul brought up was the importance of thankfulness. I believe one of the greatest safeguards against pride is a heart overflowing with gratitude.

Thankfulness should be the dominant posture of every believer. When gratitude gives way to entitlement, pride has already begun to seep into our hearts.

Gratitude keeps us conscious of our dependence upon God, while pride convinces us that we are sufficient without Him.

Where thankfulness diminishes, pride flourishes.

One Scripture that haunts me is Romans 1:21:

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Doesn't that phrase, “neither were thankful,” seem a little out of place? Why would Paul include ingratitude in such a sobering description of humanity's spiritual decline?

I believe it's because thankfulness keeps our hearts turned toward the God who is light, while ingratitude opens the door to the darkness of pride!

What begins with a failure to honor God and give thanks can eventually lead to a heart darkened by pride and a mind that no longer depends upon Him or acknowledges His authority!

Let’s close with this prayer: Lord, keep the eyes of my heart open to recognize Your faithfulness, grace, patience, mercy, and love!  I want to glorify You always and to thank You for what You have done!  You rescued me from my darkness and I thank You!  My help comes from You! Let thankfulness be the defining quality of my life! In Jesus' name, amen!