Personal Application:
“’Declare it all’ advised the desert fathers, those radical early Christians….Declare it all—every thought, every feeling, every cruel intention, every ignoble desire and holy aspiration. Don’t be afraid to present anything to God…[whose] comprehending, compassionate love knows how to heal your distempers.” (Morris, Provocative Grace) Declare independence from pride by “declaring it all” to God. Get any help you need from a therapist or pastor.
Family Activity:
Read James 4:10. Winning a prize or an award can cause a person to feel very proud. Invite each family member to bring something that symbolizes an accomplishment he or she has achieved. Ask family members to share how they earned their awards and how they felt afterwards. Ask what God’s role was in the process of having achieved each goal. Discuss differences between pride and humility. How does confidence fit in? How can we feel good about reaching goals while embodying a spirit of humility? Ask each family member to set a new, personal goal of some kind. Discuss how we can focus on Christ while working toward a goal. As individuals reach their goals, pray for humility and praise God for each success.
Prayer: O God, you call us to trust you and your plan for our lives. Help us put aside our own prideful planning to seek your will and your wisdom, giving ourselves completely to you so you may be glorified in every aspect of our lives. Amen.
