Dear Sister,
I am a woman of strength and confidence. My parents did an amazing job raising my sister and me. They prepared and encouraged us. They praised our successes. One success led to another and another. They were a strong foundation for my life and adulthood. My confidence in who I was as their child, a woman, and a child of God was great. However, I have heard it said (Love & Respect marriage seminar) that “every strength has a back sided weakness”. Thinking through the devil’s tactics and knowing he likes to tailor his attacks to each individual (particularly by honing in on their weaknesses), I wondered what the weakness of this wonderful strength was.
I almost choked when I realized what it was.
Pride.
Just about every conflict I have found myself deeply wounded by was because someone pointed out an area that I thought I had handled, covered, or was competent in—and they felt otherwise. I’m not saying they were always right, but as soon as I heard something other than a positive, I got (get) defensive and hurt. The funny thing is I don’t tend to question whether I am still a strong woman, capable and able to get things done; but I mope around and tend to be consumed by the criticism for a time (often a loooong time). If true, I should allow the criticism to shape me into a better individual; if untrue, I should toss it out. I have done neither. Instead I have allowed the devil and my own prideful heart to condemn me to a torture rack that I am on, but not tied to.
Yes, you read that right. Christ freed me at the cross yet I am the foolishly jump up on to that torture device and allow the devil to gleefully turn the screw. And he will, until you and I realize the game he’s playing and GET OFF!
I am jumping off and running away with this in mind and in action:
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interest of others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Phil. 2:3-8
If that doesn’t keep my pride (and the devil) at bay, I am confident I can find another verse (or more) to attack my pride. Dear sister, please join me and run out of Satan’s torture chamber. He can’t hold us there unless we choose to stay. Christ saved us from more than just Hell. He saved us for an abundant life!
Running with you,
Rebecca