A Proud or Broken People?

During our tea time today, Mom read something that was very convicting to me. I hope that this inspires and challenges you as well!

These are some things that characterize proud, unbroken people:

• Focus on the failures of others
• Self-righteous; have a critical, fault finding spirit; look at own life/faults through a telescope, but others with a microscope
• Look down on others
• Independent/self-sufficient spirit
• Maintain control; must be my way
• Have to prove that they are right
• Claim rights
• Demanding spirit
• Desire to be served
• Desire for self advancement
• Driven to be recognized/appreciated
• Wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked
• Think of what they can do for God
• Feel confident in how much they know
• Self Conscious
• Keep people at arm's length
• Quick to blame others
• Unapproachable
• Defensive when criticized
• Concerned with being "respectable"
• Concerned about what others may think
• Work to maintain image/protect reputation
• Find it difficult to share their spiritual needs with others
• Want to be sure no one finds out about their sin
• Have a hard time saying, "I was wrong. Would you forgive me?"
• When confessing sin, deal in generalities
• Concerned about the consequences of their sin
• Remorseful over their sin if they get caught/found out

These things characterize a broken, humble people:

• Overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need
• Compassionate; forgiving; look for best in others
• Esteem others better than self
• Dependent spirit; recognize need of others
• Surrender control
• Willing to yield the right to be right
• Yield rights
• Giving spirit
• Motivated to serve others
• Desire to promote others
• Sense of unworthiness; thrilled to be used at all; eager for others to get the credit
• Rejoice when others are lifted up
• Know they have nothing to offer God
• Humbled by how much they have to learn
• Not concerned with self at all
• Risk getting close to others; willing to take the risks of loving intimately
• Accept personal responsibility; can see where they are wrong
• Easy to be entreated
• Receive criticism with a humble, open heart
• Concerned with being real
• All that matters is what God knows
• Die to own reputation
• Willing to be open and transparent with others
• Willing to be exposed
• Quick to admit failure and to seek forgiveness
• Deal in specifics
• Grieved over the cause/root of their sins
• Repentant over sin (forsake it)

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15