Hey, girlies!
Last week we had our second session together in Head to Soul Makeover. I'm a bit slow in getting this recap posted, but better late than never! (Our internet was down all week last week in the office, which made things a little bit tricky.) Anyway, without further ado, here's our discussion from last week...
Imagine yourself as a contestant on American Idol. Terrified? Excited? Yes, to both?
Have you ever won a competition, election, or tryout? How did winning affect you? Can you think of people who were changed by fame or wealth or success?
There are four types of pride we see among contestants on American Idol (and in other areas of life too):
1. Idol 1: Thinks too much of herself
2. Idol 2: Thinks too little of herself
3. Idol 3: Thinks too little of others
4. Idol 4: Ignores input from others
Where do you fall in among these idols? Chances are you've got bits of each one. But which do you see yourself being highest in?
The truth is that none of these idols is really what we want to be. Rather than exhibit pride, we should strive to posses a quality that is genuine, deeply attractive, that makes people want to be around you. That character trait is humility.
Before you get to thinking wrongly about what humility is, let's determine what humility isn't:
-Humility doesn't mean dressing ugly.
-Humility doesn't mean letting everyone boos you around.
-Humility doesn't make you into a human sidewalk.
-Humility doesn't make you feel worthless.
Humility DOES mean thinking rightly about who you are in relation to God. That means knowing your real strengths, true weaknesses, genuine talents, and real worth. When you begin thinking rightly or realistically, you become a real person in a fake world. And that's our goal in this journey together.
Let's take a look at a guy that shows us a lot about humility. In fact, Jesus actually called him the greatest person ever born (in so many words). John the Baptist.
In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth: among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
Why was JTB Jesus' pick for World's Greatest Guy? He was humble.
There are 3 things we can learn about humility from JTB:
1. A humble person has the right perspective about who she is.
Check out what JTB says in Mark 1:7. He knew that God was more powerful than Him. JTB demonstrated with his words and with his life the idea that "God is God--and I am not."
2. A humble person directs people's attention to God.
John 1:35-37 records an instance of JTB pointing people around him to Jesus. By directing others' attention to Jesus, we automatically direct it away from ourselves. We can't have it both ways.
3. A humble person is not self-focused but God-focused.
It's impossible to develop humility by focusing on developing humility. We have to take our eyes off of ourselves and put our eyes on Christ. Check out what John 3:30 says.
So, where do you stand, sister? Are you a prideful person or a humble follower of Christ? Do your words and actions show an accurate perspective of who you are, direct peoples' attention to God, and show a God-focused mindset, or are you boastful and self-centered?
I'm praying for you, that Jesus would be working on your heart and molding you into the likeness of Him. I pray that God shows you gently areas of your life that are overtaken by pride and directs you clearly in paths of humbleness. Overall, I'm praying that He would become greater in you and through you.
Be blessed, girls!
Jessie
*All material was taken directly from Episode 2 in Head to Soul Makeover by Shelley Leith.
Last week we had our second session together in Head to Soul Makeover. I'm a bit slow in getting this recap posted, but better late than never! (Our internet was down all week last week in the office, which made things a little bit tricky.) Anyway, without further ado, here's our discussion from last week...
Imagine yourself as a contestant on American Idol. Terrified? Excited? Yes, to both?
Have you ever won a competition, election, or tryout? How did winning affect you? Can you think of people who were changed by fame or wealth or success?
There are four types of pride we see among contestants on American Idol (and in other areas of life too):
1. Idol 1: Thinks too much of herself
2. Idol 2: Thinks too little of herself
3. Idol 3: Thinks too little of others
4. Idol 4: Ignores input from others
Where do you fall in among these idols? Chances are you've got bits of each one. But which do you see yourself being highest in?
The truth is that none of these idols is really what we want to be. Rather than exhibit pride, we should strive to posses a quality that is genuine, deeply attractive, that makes people want to be around you. That character trait is humility.
Before you get to thinking wrongly about what humility is, let's determine what humility isn't:
-Humility doesn't mean dressing ugly.
-Humility doesn't mean letting everyone boos you around.
-Humility doesn't make you into a human sidewalk.
-Humility doesn't make you feel worthless.
Humility DOES mean thinking rightly about who you are in relation to God. That means knowing your real strengths, true weaknesses, genuine talents, and real worth. When you begin thinking rightly or realistically, you become a real person in a fake world. And that's our goal in this journey together.
Let's take a look at a guy that shows us a lot about humility. In fact, Jesus actually called him the greatest person ever born (in so many words). John the Baptist.
In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth: among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
Why was JTB Jesus' pick for World's Greatest Guy? He was humble.
There are 3 things we can learn about humility from JTB:
1. A humble person has the right perspective about who she is.
Check out what JTB says in Mark 1:7. He knew that God was more powerful than Him. JTB demonstrated with his words and with his life the idea that "God is God--and I am not."
2. A humble person directs people's attention to God.
John 1:35-37 records an instance of JTB pointing people around him to Jesus. By directing others' attention to Jesus, we automatically direct it away from ourselves. We can't have it both ways.
3. A humble person is not self-focused but God-focused.
It's impossible to develop humility by focusing on developing humility. We have to take our eyes off of ourselves and put our eyes on Christ. Check out what John 3:30 says.
So, where do you stand, sister? Are you a prideful person or a humble follower of Christ? Do your words and actions show an accurate perspective of who you are, direct peoples' attention to God, and show a God-focused mindset, or are you boastful and self-centered?
I'm praying for you, that Jesus would be working on your heart and molding you into the likeness of Him. I pray that God shows you gently areas of your life that are overtaken by pride and directs you clearly in paths of humbleness. Overall, I'm praying that He would become greater in you and through you.
Be blessed, girls!
Jessie
*All material was taken directly from Episode 2 in Head to Soul Makeover by Shelley Leith.
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