Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own eyes.”
What does ‘never be wise in your own eyes’ mean? It means to not think more highly of yourself than you should. One way this plays out is thinking you are better than another. I wrote about this last week. Another way this plays out is thinking you are less than who God says that you are. It’s negative self talk which is really a form of being ‘wise in your own eyes.’ It doesn’t seem like it at face value, but it is.
Last week, I was fighting negative thoughts about myself due to some hurtful words that were aimed at me. The words met their intended mark, causing me to momentarily question who I was in Christ. It was not good. I allowed myself to feel self-pity which is a sneaky form of being wise in your own eyes. It seems humble, but it is not. Listening to and believing those kind of words is actually, for those of us in Christ, a way to cooperate with the enemy. We don’t want to do that. For a few hours last week, I was camped out in column 2 listening to the evil one’s voice. Has this ever happened to you?
| God’s Voice | Satan’s Voice |
| Stills you | Rushes you |
| Leads you | Pushes you |
| Reassures you | Frightens you |
| Enlightens you | Confuses you |
| Encourages you | Discourages you |
| Comforts you | Worries you |
| Calms you | Obsesses you |
| Convicts you | Condemns you |
What do we do when this happens?
- We humble ourselves, by His grace.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
2. We run to the Lord, by His grace.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
- We set our minds on who He is and who we are in Him, by His grace.
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Here are two documents for you to read at your leisure. One is a working document that I have written about who God is. The other was given to me from a friend on who we are in Christ. Print them and tuck them in the pages of your Bible or tape them to your kitchen cupboards. We need God’s word before us at all times to help us fight for truth about who He is and who we are in Him and to help us not be wise in our own eyes.
After a difficult week, I left last Friday for a Women’s Retreat at Fort Wilderness, a camp tucked in the north woods of Wisconsin and founded by my grandparents. As I stated previously, I was struggling last week with my thoughts and really felt like I had no heart to go, but I decided to stop the pity party and run to the Lord by setting my mind on who I know Him to be. I prayed, confessing my thoughts to the Lord, and asking Him to reveal Himself to me in a tangible way as I drove the four hours to Fort. I put on my ABC’s of God playlist and sang and praised the Lord the whole way. God was faithful the entire way to show me Himself through the brilliant fall color. Here are a few pictures.
The leaves are most beautiful when they are dying. It’s in their dying that their true color shows. It’s the same for us in Christ. When we die to ourselves and live unto Christ, we are most beautiful. May this fall remind of you of the good work that He started in you and promises to complete. (Philippians 1:6)
About half-way through my trip, it began to rain. As I was driving and singing, the sun came out while it was raining and the most beautiful double rainbow appeared spanning the entire horizon of the sky reminding me of who God is. He is the faithful God who always keeps His promises. I had to pull over because I was so overcome with joy in God’s quick answer to not only tangibly show me who He was through the fall colors, but through showing me in His creation of a rainbow. Here is a picture.
So, dear reader…please join me in the fight of not being wise in your own eyes. Remain humble and pray, setting your mind on who He is and who you are in Him
Blessings to you,
Heather
When You Pray…
Each day:
- Pray for yourself.
- Pray for you spouse.
- Pray for your children.
Weekly:
Sunday – Government
Monday – Immediate Family
Tuesday – Your Church
Wednesday – Your Extended Family
Thursday – Your Spouse’s Extended Family
Friday – Your Friends
Saturday – Variety
Feel free to go back and review in more detail the weekly prayer points.
When You Pray 
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