Bragging on God instead of Self

This is blog post #2 for this week. That's a bit more frequent for me, but hey, when God speaks to my heart, I can't help but share what I'm learning. So here goes.

I was in a bit of a fussy mood after my women's Bible study this morning and I couldn't figure out why. It was a great lesson (we're studying the book of Daniel and learning wonderful truths about God's sovereignty!) and there was nothing about the morning that should have frustrated me. But I gradually was able to pinpoint the issue. I realized that I have this weird need during our small group time to try and impress the other ladies with my thoughts. I want them to think I'm wise, I'm spiritual, I know a lot about God's Word, etc., etc., etc. And that day, everything I said just flopped. I stumbled over my words, nothing came out right, and all I got was a bunch of blank stares. Basically, I didn't look as good as I wanted to in front of them.

That example is silly, I know. But it's just one of the many ways I try to impress others...and it's pervasive in my life. If I'm really honest with myself, I will call it what it is: PRIDE. It's a need to boast in self, to put my glory above others, even above God.

In the mommy world, the need to impress comes out in subtle ways. We may drop little comments about what our children are doing developmentally, spiritually, mentally, and socially in order to compare with other moms and kids so we can feel good about ourselves. Or maybe we go to the other extreme, playing down how much effort was put into hosting a baby shower, how little time we put into decorating our home, how much money we didn't spend on a cute new outfit. While not always the case, often times, beneath those comments, there is a deep need to impress, to look good in front of others.

So my question for today is....what if, instead of boasting in ourselves, we started boasting in God? What would that really look like?

Instead of talking about how precious our children are, let's talk about how AWESOME and CREATIVE is our God, who knit these little ones together in our wombs and who is growing them into the men and women He has designed for them to be? Instead of commiserating about the challenges of being a mom, let's talk about what God is teaching us through these tough times. Instead of pointing out a pretty sunset, why not praise God for being such a magnificent artist! Instead of complimenting someone for being a talented _____ (writer, mother, cook, you fill in the blank), why not give God the glory by saying something like: It is so fun to see how God has uniquely gifted you with X gift and used it to minister to others for His glory. Instead of complaining, gossipping, or making insignificant small talk, why not brag about one of God's many attritubutes that you especially appreciate today, like His goodness, His faithfulness, His love, His mercy?

What a neat world that would be! So my challenge to myself and each of you today is to no longer boast in ourselves, claiming our own glory, but to start boasting in God, whose magnificent characteristics are endless and who one day, we will have the privilege of kneeling before in utter worship, giving Him every single bit of glory, honor and praise!!