My Birthday is 2 Days Away: 2 Days Left of 33

I wrote 4 days ago, sharing how I was in a state of reflection regarding my birthday. If you haven’t read it, read Choose to Live Right Now: 6 Days Left of 33. As I sit at IHOP on this Sunday evening at 11:37 p.m., with 2 days left of 33, I can honestly say that I’m now ready for the next stage.

You know 1 thing that the Lord has been majorly dealing with me on?

Humility.

I’m simply humbled to realize how deep pride runs. How natural it is and honestly how good it feels. Pride is deceitful and ultimately destroys (Proverbs 16:18), but the only way to realize that is for God to show you. This flesh that we’re wrapped in is extremely prideful and relishes in pride.

Outside of God, pride will consume us and ultimately destroy us.

God has truly been walking me through this humility journey in a major way for several months now! As I write that, let me encourage you:

Some things that the Lord is dealing with you on will take time.

Though we’d like for our issues to have a quick fix, that’s not how it always works. Now don’t get me wrong, there are some issues that God will deal with immediately and ultimately; but then there are other issues that are more of a long-term process.

Honestly, as I finish out my 33rd year of life, I’m realizing that it is key for me to understand the sinful ways of my flesh so that I can stand against them and not submit to them.

There are sinful ways that come quite natural for us.

In order for us to turn from our sinful ways and walk in the Spirit, we must first be honest about our sinful ways. God will show us, we just have to be willing to be honest about what we see.

The beautiful thing is that God doesn’t show us our sin to condemn us (Romans 8:1) or leave us hanging, but rather He shows us our weaknesses so that we realize just how deeply we need Him. Without Him showing us our sinful ways, we’d think that we are good. But really, we’re not. None of us are.

Check out Jesus’ reply to young, rich ruler:

“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him,:

‘Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”

– Mark 10:17-18