Deceptive Perceptions Reflection

True humility credits God for every success. 

In his book “The Hidden Brain,” science writer Shankar Vedantam describes the day he went for a leisurely swim. The water was calm and clear, and he felt strong and proud for covering a long distance so easily. He decided to swim out of the bay and into open water. But when he tried to return he couldn’t make any progress. He had been deceived by the current. The ease of swimming had not been due to his strength but to the movement of the water.
In our relationship with God something similar can happen. “Going with the flow” can lead us to believe we’re stronger than we are. When life is easy, our minds tell us that it’s due to our own strength. We become proud and self-confident. But when trouble hits, we realize how little strength we have and how helpless we are.
This happened with the Israelites. God would bless them with military success, peace, and prosperity. But thinking they had achieved it on their own, they would then become proud and self-sufficient (Deut. 8:11-12). Assuming that they no longer needed God, they would go their own way until an enemy attacked and they would realize how powerless they were without God’s help.
When life is going well we too need to beware of self-deception. Pride will take us where we do not want to go. Only humility will keep us where we ought to be, grateful to God and dependent on His strength. – Julie Ackerman Link – Daily Bread.

Lay It Down (Humility) – Michael Gleason (2011) – Amber Sky –


I think it’s Time to Make a Change, It’s Time to Turn some Things Around, I’m gonna Stop and Rearrange, Take some Time and Lay It Down.

Prayer: Lord, we don’t dare trust in our own strength to do our tasks today. You are the Giver of our talents and opportunities. Help us use them not for our own advancement, but to help others. Amen.

Humility - thinking of yourself less
Humility – thinking of yourself less

Insight: The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and now stood at the threshold of the Promised Land. This important book reviews their covenant with God. – Deuteronomy.