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“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5).

A fellow writer friend once shared this with me: pride and sin both have “I” in the middle.

We all know taking the credit for God’s work in us is prideful. It puts the emphasis on our abilities, not His that He has graciously bestowed upon us. Our talents are His gift, and He should be praised, not us or our accomplishments.

Psalm 40:4 says this: “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”

But, the lack of pride is actually prideful as well because, in that case, the person is doubting if God can create worth. It is still dealing with “I” in the center of everything, just in a negative way. That also is a lie. It can lead you astray as much as being overly proud of yourself and your abilities. Both put the limelight on you, not your God. Both are you taking control and responsibility, and not trusting in God to handle the results.

Do you struggle with pride, or perhaps the lack of it? I do. Growing up, I tried to prove my worth by being the best at whatever I did in order to win my father’s favor.  It has taken me a long while to learn that is not the way I should behave with my Heavenly Father who already loves me completely. I don’t have to earn His favor. There are no hoops to jump through, or rungs of a ladder to climb. No grades to achieve, no Brownie points to make. I don’t have to fear that God will stop loving me because I didn’t live up to His high performance standards.

Too often I find when I write a Bible lesson or teach a workshop, I’ve slipped back into the seeking-approval-mode by judging other’s responses and taking that as God’s reaction. I’m looking to people to give me a grade and am seeking their approval to determine if I did well for God. Instead of asking “Did I do good, God?” I should confidently trust He did great things through me, even if I can’t see the results. Why? Because He chose to use me, not the other way around.

If I have pledged to be His vessel, then my faith should tell me that whatever I do in His name will be worthy and right and fruitful. God (not me) is in control of how it is received. Please don’t get me wrong. Of course we want to please God when we agree to be His vessels.  But that should be a thankful response to the fact that He loves us and dwells in us, not the reverse by thinking His love is dependent on what we do. How well we do doesn’t measure God’s love for us. The next verse gives the way we should respond each time God chooses to use us -

“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told (Psalm 40:5).

Whatever we do in Him, no matter how small, He can multiply. Nothing we say or do can out-perform God, and nothing we say or do can diminish His power and influence in other’s lives. I am not responsible for other’s reactions. I am only responsible for how I react to God’s acting through me. When I step aside, and let Him take the credit, then I don’t have to worry about the outcome.

Question: What have you done lately, believing it was God’s will, that you’re taking the credit or the blame for instead of placing it in God’s hands where it belongs?

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“How precious are your thoughts concerning me…” (Psalm 139:17).

It had been anything but a “quiet” time. Although I had closed the door and opened my Bible, my attention skittered between meetings just attended, people needs for which I felt responsible, and future events crowding the calendar. A glance at the clock too soon revealed that it was time to leave my private chamber and tend to the day’s responsibilities. “So much for spiritual preparation” was my somewhat whiny comment to God.

Then came His voice speaking into my heart—as clearly as if He had been physically standing before me: “That’s okay, my daughter. I just wanted to sit here with you. I’ve enjoyed our time together.”

We delude ourselves into thinking that our quiet times are primarily for our own benefit. We are intellectually aware that God is always with us, that His eye is not only on the sparrow but on each of us. We claim a personal relationship with Him yet are slow to understand much of what that means.

How different would be our attitudes if we began to learn that we come into His presence to give Him joy.

God, I am so grateful for Your personal love for me. To think that You simply desire me to be in Your presence is overwhelming. I love You.

Questions: Sit quietly and imagine the look on God’s face as you come into His presence. What words of welcome might He be saying to you? How would you respond?

About the Author Marilyn Ehle

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Quick and Powerful, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog