The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
-Obadiah 3
Who am I fooling? Am I someone better than anyone else? Surely, you oh Lord, knows how deceitful my heart is.
Is there a man who exalted himself and never fall? Even Lucifer, has fallen! That disgraceful son of the morning who thrived to exalt himself and be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-15). Now if an angel of light was thrown down--- how much more, you feeble man?
How foolish is your thought, oh son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)! For you thought that the world was made for you alone! How can you say that you're infallible if you have been defiled since the day you knew sin?
How futile is your thought, oh man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)! have you forgotten that everyone has his own weaknesses and vulnerabilities? How can you say that you're invincible if your power and riches can't save your wretched soul?
Repent, oh boaster! For your folly have overshadowed your arrogant heart. A man living in darkness hates the light because his works were evil (John 3:19-20). So is a heart shrouded with darkness. How can he make a sound judgment?
Repent, oh braggart! For your pride have blinded your heart. If a blind follows a blind, will they not both fall to a ditch (Matthew 15:14)? So is a haughty man who followed his own desires. What good thing can he accomplish?
A haughty man always seek what glorifies him. He seeks riches, for he thought that money makes the world go round. He seeks power, for he wanted all on his feet shall bow down. He also seeks fame, for he wanted his name to be embedded on the pages of history. Yet, even when a man fully achieved all these vanities, he still found himself lacking. When will you be satisfied, oh man?!
How long will you let yourself be deceived, oh you arrogant? When will you open your heart to the Almighty? Remember that your life will forever be doomed and restless unless you cast your burden to the Lord. For there is none who can fill that void space inside of you, but God alone.
Teach my heart not to seek the rudiments of the world, oh father, that we may not go astray. Whenever I'm about to brag, hold my tongue and rebuke me. Whenever pride covers my heart, don't hold that rod of chastisement away from me. For it is better to feel the whip of your love than to fall in the pit of thorns along the way of wickedness. Suffer me not to trust what my hands can do for they are bound to fail. Instead, teach us to be humble in all our ways and always trusting on your abounding grace. That we may present ourselves holy and acceptable to our Lord and King.
