Day 7 - The Boasting Tongue
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." Pro 27:2
This is a fine line! We don't want to walk in "false" humility over our accomplishments but neither do we want to boast and take credit for what we have achieved. The difference lies in your heart...who do you believe your good fortune and success was orchestrated by: You or God?
Remember, out of the heart the mouth speaks. If you truly believe that God has given you your blessings, gifts, fortune and health that is what you will speak when pressed or asked. Look at the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar boasted at all he himself did--he strolled along his palace roof surveying all he had conquered, built by his own mighty power (Dan 4:30).
God interrupted Nebuchadnezzar's boasting and declared that he would lose his kingdom immediately! The king was diven from the palace and lived as a derelict becoming mentally ill. Once he repented and gave God the glory by acknowledging God's rule over everything; God gave him back his sanity and restored his kindom. (Dan 4:34-35)
We must give God the glory, not through rote praise, but truly believe in our hearts of the mercy and grace that God had on us and the lavish gifts He has given us in the form of material possessions, people, experiences, our own gifts and abilities.
Meditate on this, 1 Cor 4:7 "Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"
Pegues has a great quote in her book: "Learn to take praise in stride. If your popularity increases, don't be intoxicated by the accolades. Remember that praise is like perfume. If you consume it, it will kill you!" p.38
Affirmation: By the grace of God, I am what I am. (1 Cor 15:10)
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