In Daniel 9:18-19, this inspiring man of single solitary devotion gives us an example of the ideal attitude we should have in prayer.This is what he says: “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay … Continue reading The right attitude in prayer
humility
Advice for a king—and for all of us
[Note: New podcast episode link below.] ~ In Daniel 4, we learn about a king who has become proud and arrogant. He has a troubling dream. Since Daniel has developed a reputation for successfully interpreting dreams, he is summoned to help.Daniel says that the king will be humbled. He will be driven away from the … Continue reading Advice for a king—and for all of us
Humility: weakness to the world, greatness to God
In the previous devotional I raised the topic of humility. In Daniel 4, the pagan king was full of himself. But God taught him a lesson and punished him for seven years. He was made to live like an animal and even eat like one.When he finally acknowledged God and was restored to his former … Continue reading Humility: weakness to the world, greatness to God
Humility—even when things get heated
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).In the eighteenth century there was a very heated debate between two theological heavyweights—George Whitfield and John Wesley. It was … Continue reading Humility—even when things get heated
“I’m doing this for God’s glory!” Um, really?
[1-week pause alert. See notification at the end of today's devotional.] ~ In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul writes: “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”It’s a famous verse. It reminds us to give God the glory no matter what. It’s not about us; it’s about him.When we feel overlooked or taken … Continue reading “I’m doing this for God’s glory!” Um, really?
Win within
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6).Kevin Myers and John Maxwell coined a phrase: “win within.”* It’s meant to help us think about what’s happening inside of us. When we live by faith at our very core, that will flow outward into our words, decisions and actions. If we want to … Continue reading Win within
Humility and hypocrisy
The opposite of religious hypocrisy is faithful sincerity. With God’s help we want to move from the first category to the second. Not only do we want to say we believe in Jesus, but to think and act like we believe in Jesus.An important ingredient is humility.In Mark 7 Jesus speaks with a Gentile woman. … Continue reading Humility and hypocrisy
A biblical definition of humility
In yesterday’s devotional I shared a few words about success. More specifically, that success in God’s eyes has to do with humble faithfulness. James was a wise church leader and a half-brother of Jesus. He brings this into focus as he corrects some people about their behaviour: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will … Continue reading A biblical definition of humility
What is success?
What do you want to be successful at? Perhaps it has to do with your career or schooling. Perhaps it has to do with your relationships or a personal goal that only you know about. If we want to be “successful,” we need to be aware of how we define that term. It’s easy to … Continue reading What is success?
The one in whom God delights
Do you ever come across a verse in the Bible and wonder, 'How has that not jumped out at me before?!' That happened to me recently with Isaiah 66:2: "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." The prophet had spent time speaking about future judgement … Continue reading The one in whom God delights
