Becoming the Man God's Future Requires

Good morning, sir!

Welcome to day four!  Way to go!  So glad you’re here!  

Please pray with me:  “Lord, meet me now as I pause for these moments. My spirit needs nourishment so I can be the spiritual leader You want me to be today! Lord, I surrender to You so that You can make me a dwelling place for Your Holy Spirit! In Jesus' name, amen!”

Another theme Pastor Paul brought up that is absolutely critical to overcoming pride is God's right to be our authority.

Pride says, “You keep control!” Humility says, “I give up control.”

Pride says, “You have to self-protect!” Humility says, “I will trust Him to protect me.”

Pride says, “You have to self-protect!” Humility says, “I will trust Him to protect me.” 

Pride says, "I need certainly!" Humility says, "I will receive what the Lord gives me."

This matter of trusting Him is pivotal!  Who has the right to stop you in your tracks and guide you? Does anyone?

Pride says, “I can't trust anyone with that important role.”

Humility says, “I hold loosely everything God has entrusted to my care, even my own life.”

And then we're tested!  And that's when we discover how closely our lives align with this foundational truth that James introduces at the beginning of his letter:

“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” — James 1:2–3

The central truth here is this:  The strongest man is not the one who controls everything, but the one who willingly surrenders everything to Christ!

Let's close in prayer:  “Lord, You are worthy of my every breath! You are the One who knows me best and loves me the most! Forgive my resistance to surrendering complete control of my life to You. Lord, I must decrease! You must increase! (John 3:30) In Jesus' name, amen!”