The War Within — Pride vs Poverty of Spirit

Back in the early 1990's I spent over two years studying The Sermon on the Mount. One could say I was a slow learner or that His lessons take a lifetime to learn. Jesus communicates issues of the heart that will identify me as a follower of His. What is truly in my heart will spill out into my life. The first of these characteristics is poverty of spirit.

  Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 NIV) 

Though I desire poverty of spirit, I seem to be infected by the poison of pride. The battle is intense and the attack comes not where I am weak but where I appear strong — "Look at all the good I do; I am not so bad". Poverty of spirit means I know and understand who God is and I recognize my utter dependence on Him and any good that I do is by the grace of God.

Poverty of spirit intertwined with a deep understanding of God's love for me and my value as His adopted child is a profound mystery.

Will you join me in asking God to reveal more of Himself to us and to show us more about ourselves so that we can fully live in the reality of this profound mystery?
 

Sharing the journey with you,