Before you go checking your God given belly button to answer my strange query you can relax no TMI required. Just a simple question birthed from my personal quest on the issue of pride. Apparently, mine is so cleverly disguised and utterly inverted I thought I was free from its’ glaring clutches.
Recently I’ve been lovingly outed on my “innie” pride while sharing a struggle I was desiring to overcome. During two separate conversations with two different friends, they tenderly said, “perhaps it is inverted pride your dealing with”… Gulp!
This reminded me of God’s truth in Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful”.
My heart longs to pin down hidden or exposed lies to the mat, or better yet deliver a 1- 2 punch of victory rendering a KO in record time. Rather, I stumble in my human frailty unable to move like the fierce Muhammad Ali who floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.
Instead, I stand with cauliflower ears scarred by shames relentless beatings, causing my natural defenses to swell with pride covering heightened insecurities . Or at times, unintentionally hidden under the guise of false humility, pride driven “Innie-ward”, inadvertently … the end results remains the same for middle letter in pride is I . Lack of trust in God’s goodness lands me ,myself and I in the driver seat pushing the petal to the metal,singing Sammy Hager rebellious tune ” I can’t drive 65″
God’s word is clear “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”..
So the journey continues towards healing my Innie and Outie forms of pride… asking God that I would “humble myself under His mighty Hand that in due time He will lift me up.”
Grateful for safe relationships spur us on to be authentic and open without the fear of rejection or ridicule. Becoming a safe haven of unconditional love that allows genuine transformation from our pride, selfishness, and other battles of our fleshly nature.
May we choose daily to no longer hide in any forms of pride forged from our brokenness but move in your Spirit of love. Perhaps with your grace I can float like a butterfly after all .
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
For pride is spiritual cancer it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment or even common sense. C.S. Lewis
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August 5, 2015 at 12:08 am
Lisa, great post. I bring my pride to Christ often, too. I love the verse, “He crowns the humble with victory.” How about if we wear our crowns with wild princess abandon?!
August 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Thank you Lynn, I love that verse and yes lets do wear our victory crowns with wild princess abandon !! Sounds delightful 🙂
August 7, 2015 at 7:07 am
Oh, Lisa, within a day of reading this, I encountered the innie/outie idea three times. Just kind of odd.
First, I heard an announcer talk about the “Outie” Cup in Germany – Jim was watching soccer. That seemed like a strange name for a soccer competition. Actually, it was “Audi” Cup – as in Porsche Audi. Then, that same day, I went to pick up some natural supplies from a friend who had a friend visiting from Salem. I commented on her baby’s willingness to be strapped in a car seat for a good hour or more. She mentioned that when the baby was smaller, she had given herself an “outie” from crying so hard but now she has an “innie.” Later on, I checked out Craft Warehouse and was surprised to see an “innie and outie” picture frame for sale.
There’s nothing profound in what I observed…it’s just that I found it odd to run across so many references within a few hours. I need to read this post several times as I know God has a lesson for me…otherwise, He wouldn’t have brought the other items to my attention!
Bless you…continue in recording His insights. I thoroughly enjoy them and am blessed by them, every time!
Love,
Lynn
August 7, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Wow Lynn, That is amazing I love how God does that . Your ears and heart are always dialed into what the Lord wants to say .
I’m excited to hear what He revealed to you . Thanks for the book , I’m very excited to start reading it .. Love you dearly , Lisa