The title refers to a funny song from 1980 by Mac Davis, in case you’re reading this and you’re younger than 45. But seriously, It’s not easy to stay humble .

The flesh is so sneaky ! Even when we think we’re doing good, the danger of pride and judging others lurks in our hearts.

Jesus knew this about people. He was patient with his disciples when they made prideful mistakes, knowing they had a lot to learn about themselves, but not so much with the self-righteous priests.

The disciples were laborers, not educated men. They had known the prejudice of the elite religious class. But the rich rulers had spent their lives studying the law and should have known that pride and superiority was not of God.

God has knocked me down a few notches many times over the years when I started thinking I was his gift to the world. He tried to warn me that I was in danger of the sin of pride, but I didn’t/don’t always listen .

I humbly admit this to you now , knowing full well that if I don’t take my own advice , I will be asking him for forgiveness again.

But the Lord is so good! He wants his children to be more like him.

He’s not mean or angry or critical like people can be. He loved us so much he came to save us from condemnation by paying the penalty for our sins by giving up his own life.

But even those of us who put our trust in his saving life, death and resurrection and try to obey him can fail.

The only way to guard ourselves against this sneaky sin of pride is to regularly check in with our motives and attitudes.

• How are we feeling about other people who need our help ?
• Have we refused to help certain people because we judged them unworthy in some way?
• Or why did we decide to participate in this activity?
• Who is getting the glory for our actions, God or us?
• Have we started pursuing a path of ambition, power or wealth that is not truly serving God?

Praying about everything before, during and after is how we stay close to God.

If we truly seek to submit our lives to his will and follow him, we have to watch out for the world’s distractions.

The more we become aware of our subconscious motives, judgments, resentment, or expectation of reward, the easier it will be to repent and ask God for help.

Don’t let Satan beat you up when you realize you had the wrong motives !

Confess your sin to God who is merciful and willing to forgive a humble and broken heart.

Nobody likes realizing that they aren’t the great person they were trying to be!

But when we understand that these uncomfortable insights are part of sanctification, then we can thank God for his grace.

[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Finding out that we aren’t perfect can also be a freeing experience .

Shame holds great power over perfectionists because they tend to judge others very harshly, as they do themselves. Then they have to be extra careful not to fail, lest their high view of themselves be found to be wrong.

But when we stay humbly dependent on the Holy Spirit and ask for mercy in time of need, then we are free to accept the Lord’s loving forgiveness, and free to give it to others .

And then we will also be a living testimony of God’s Grace in our lives.

Dear God , I thank you that you are a loving Father . Please help me to serve you with an honest and willing heart and not for any other reason than to bring you glory. Thank you for your mercy and grace as I learn to obey you and be more like your son. Please bless all who read this today and give them saving faith in Jesus today. Amen.