Dangerous Prayers

Have you ever prayed for patience? God likes to respond by training us in patience by graciously providing trials that stretch, and test, and grow the patience we thought we wanted.

Well, I think the same often may be said of asking for humility. Our Lord will answer that prayer in the affirmative by humbling the one who makes that request.

Pride is so ugly, yet I am filled with it. That is not who I am anymore! But it creeps in, often unbeknownst to me... until its filth is glaringly revealed by the light of God's truth. It is painful to have the abscess of pride expunged from your heart, but it is a very freeing pain.

I've been "stuck" at one chapter of Andrew Murray's book, The Master's Indwelling. It is my goal to read one chapter each night before I go to bed, but I have been reading the seventh chapter for several days now-- the one that elaborates on humility. Here is just one small excerpt.

What is it that prevents people from coming to that entire surrender
that we speak of? It is simply that they do not dare abandon
themselves and trust themselves to God. They are not willing
to be nothing, to give up their wishes, their will, and their
honor to Christ. Will we refuse the salvation that Jesus offers?
He gave up His own will. He gave up His own honor. He gave up
any confidence in Himself. He lived dependent upon God as a
servant whom the Father had sent. This is the salvation we
need--the Spirit of humility that was in Christ.

I am glad I can trust my heart surgeon-- He's the best one around, you know.
M