Pride.

It’s driving an amazing car and feeling the stares of strangers. It’s wearing your newest outfit and being complimented sincerely. It’s hearing your name spoken and every head in the room turns to look, their hands clapping. It’s being congratulated by teammates and hearing the roar of the crowd.  It’s walking on stage and hearing the audience reaction—and seeing the synchronized lifting of 4,000 camera phones, tiny shields to record your every move.

Sometimes it’s private moments: folding a fat wallet and stuffing it in a pocket.  Holding your baby, dreaming of its future. Walking an intelligent dog. Riding a spirited horse.  Summitting the peak of a challenging mountain. Or rocking on the porch, enjoying your home.

Pride is not all bad. There is pride that separates you from God—your Father on whom every breath depends. But there is also pride that draws you near to Him. You can be proud of God, and proud of His works.

“Some take pride in chariots and others in horses, but we take pride in the Name of Yahweh our God” Psalm 20:7.

Have you felt pride in God? Have you felt proud to be His child? Consider the feelings above—Have you walked through a crowd and realized the thrill of knowing you are a child of God, that “I am His and He is mine”? Can you stand lost in a crowd of worshippers and feel the emotion you feel in an amazing new outfit, but feel it because you are “clothed in Christ”? Remember the pride of great achievements?  Have you felt the same satisfaction because you are “crowned with forgiveness”? Can you thrill because your name is written in heaven?

1 Corinthians 1:31 “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

God, teach us to “take pride in the Name of our God.” Help us to FEEL pride in YOU, to be thrilled by forgiveness, excited that we know you, enthusiastic about being your messengers. May our pride in YOU eclipse every other thing that tempts us toward pride. May our pride in you exceed every other pride.

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