Humble Pie

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Humble Pie

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 3:18-19

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness…”

Romans 12:16

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 111:10-112:1

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!

1 Timothy 1:5-7

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Galatians 6:3

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Romans 14:3

Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3

¹Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. ² If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; ³ but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

Devotional:

Yesterday, I sat at a swim lesson with my 3.5 year old strong willed daughter having a short conversation with another mom about how when our first born children came along, we thought that we had the answers. Both of our first born children were more compliant. Both slept through the night very early (mine by 4 months, with most nights quite good up until that point). Both were quiet and compliant as babies and toddlers. We both thought that moms with challenging children weren’t “doing it right,” whether we were aware of that attitude or not.

I still remember the point after my daughter came screaming from my womb that I realized that my “success” or “failure” as a mother did not have anything to do with how my child was behaving. OK, actually that was the point at which I thought I understood that. Things definitely changed in our home from those early days. I am still learning this when my 5 year old boy with autism bolts in public despite us calling to him to return, or my 3.5 year old girl has a screaming, hitting meltdown at a kid’s club over a toy she won’t wait to play with. 

In those early days, I was unaware of my pride and arrogance. I had “answers” for other moms, and thought if they would listen to me, their problem would be fixed.

Yesterday, as the other mom and I talked, she said, “we just call him our humble pie,” she said with a smile.

I love that image.

Yes, having a child with a strong will has helped me to eat humble pie. It is a continual feast, if I am honest. I desperately desire to be reduced down to the message of the Cross, and to lay my life and knowledge at the feet of Jesus. He is the Only Wise.

The same is true for being a wife. After years of waiting to be married, God has allowed my marriage to be in a place to need help. Receiving wisdom from a Godly man and woman of God has shown us that we are dependent on God for our ability to walk this out.

God has placed me now to need to give ideas, advice and share His wisdom with other moms. I am so glad He has given me my various forms of humble pie so that I can learn to lean on Him for my understanding. At times it can be hard. I have chosen to receive mentoring and coaching, which has shown me how important it is to receive wisdom from another further down the road than I. He is good, and will continue to use my imperfect, silly self to touch others so long as I keep my pie close, and recognize that I am not wise apart from Him.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that You have shown me that wisdom is Yours to give. You have blessed us all with Your Word, and wisdom comes only from You.

Today as I obey You in parenting my children, I ask that You will guide me in how to best shape them. I ask that You will give me humility in my interactions with others.

I lift up my child(ren) and ask that You would touch their life, especially in (area of need or concern). Help me not to try to “fix” it or seek to have the “answers,” but instead I give it to You to solve and to deliver.

I lift up my husband today, and thank You that You have ordained him as the priest over our home. I pray that he would be led mightily by You today, Lord, and that You would infuse him with Your wisdom and humility.  

I pray a blessing over this day, over our going out and coming in.

In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen