01/12/2025
This morning I read Oswald Chambers’ thoughts regarding our conceit and inability to see ourselves as God sees us. I read about how God and Jesus see us and about the need for them to strip away that conceit we harbor and reveal our shortcomings to us by finally getting us alone.
"The only one who understands us is God. The greatest curse in spiritual life is conceit. If we ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we shall never say, "Oh, I am so unworthy," because we shall know we are, beyond the possibility of stating it. As long as we are not quite sure that we are unworthy, God will keep narrowing us in until He gets us alone." - Oswald Chambers
As I thought about this, I realized how I was often the last to see the real flaws in myself. Have you ever come to this conclusion about our nature as humans? We easily see the problems in others but are slow to see them in ourselves? Most of the time it has to hit us right in the face, or someone else has to confront us with it. Then and only then do we begin to deal with the issue.
Sitting in my prayer chair this morning I began to think of the times that God had to get me alone and have aa straightforward talk to me about my shortfalls. Have you had these moments in your walk of faith... those times when nothing will change us but a closed-door session with the Lord?
I typically try to relate movements of God to things that happen in my own life. This helps me to simplify what is happening and to understand them better. We hear people attempting to do this all the time; someone will ask "Can you put that in laymen’s terms?" or "Give me an example of that." As much as we would like to believe we are able to interact with God as a peer it just isn’t so. We are like little children who try to talk to their parents as if they were equals. Sometimes it is cute, but most of the time it is laughable. God is far above us.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
This morning I began to think of how I would approach issues with my children as they grew up. I came to the conclusion that I had four major types of conversations with my young ones; I had everyday conversations, times of praise, heart to heart talks, and disciplinary conversations.
Each of these is similar to talks I have every day with my Heavenly Father in prayer. There are those times of typical conversation when I tell God what is on my mind and ask for help with the routine issues of life. I have these prayers just about anywhere, and they are more akin to a casual chit chat with my Heavenly Father. Then there are those times when God has blessed me and my soul bursts forth in praise! This happens out loud and before the world; I can't wait to tell everyone within earshot how wonderful my God is! Thirdly, there are the heart-to-heart talks like the one I had when both my mother and father died. I went into a quiet place and sobbed in His open arms, and He comforted me as He told me it would be alright. Finally, there are the disciplinary talks where God takes me by my arm, and we walk briskly alone to the woodshed where He has a stern conversation with me.
So my everyday prayer happens just about anywhere, and my praise for God is done before the world, but my heart to heart talks, and disciplinary conversations occur in private. In one I seek Him out alone, and in the other He takes me by the arm and directs me to a place where we can either discipline me, or talk things through with me one on one.
When it comes to our shortcomings and conceit, God takes us by the arm and off we go to the woodshed. There He reveals to us the issue in our lives and in no uncertain terms tells us how we should behave. Nothing humbles us more than to be stripped of the garments we have used to cover our own issues and to be forced to see ourselves as we truly are. At that moment we become humble, contrite, and we are changed.
We all have a problem with conceit. We have a certain amount of pride and hubris that allows us to mask our failures and inadequacies. Even those who we see as humble have a degree of conceit in their lives... and God walks each of us through it on the way to the woodshed every day. We might begin that walk in defiance, or believing we are right, but it never ends that way. When was the last time you were taken to the woodshed? What was the issue that was addressed? Are you on the verge of another brisk walk now?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the disciple that you use to transform me into a better person; a more Christ-like person. Father, I pray that my conceit will not blind me to the shortfalls in my life. Reveal my sins to me Father that I might ask your forgiveness and help in dealing with them. My Dear Lord, let me confess the flaws I have before you in my daily prayers without letting them get to the point where you must take me to the woodshed alone and speak sternly to me. Each time I see my sins, without the need for a special talk, I know that I have grown in the spirit and that my understanding has stripped away some of the human conceit that once hid them from my conscious self. Thank you, Lord, for the talks and instruction that have led me to this place in my faith, and thank you Father, for your strong hand that keeps me on the straight and narrow path. I pray that as I grow mor mature in my faith and the understanding that your Holy Spirit gives me, that I will find myself coming to you directly, asking that you tell me the right ways to live. Help me to see my shortfalls Abba before I need to be forcefully corrected and disciplined. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who corrects me as I would one of my children and helps me to mature in my faith. Holy are you whose times alone with me in the woodshed are stern, but they are always loving. Merciful and kind are you, but unyielding in principle, as you speak truth to me, and point out my flaws. Teach me to humble myself as we talk, and to never feel that I know better than you. End each stern talk with me understanding my shortcoming and being lovingly held in your warm embrace… feeling the reassurance of your grace. Praised be your name Father for each of our talks, those we have casually in everyday conversation, our heart to heart talks, those of disciplinary corrections, and the wonderful moments of praise like we are having now. Great are you and what a perfect Father you are. You are my friend, my wise counselor, my disciplinarian, and the love and wonder in my life. All praise, honor, and glory are yours.
Hear this prayer and lead me ever closer to you. Let all who believe kneel humbly in your presence, pray unceasing to you, and say with me… AMEN as they join me in it!
AMEN!
“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”
Proverbs 13:24 ESV
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.””
Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”
Colossians 3:20-21 ESV
Rich Forbes