Bible Verse
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Sometimes the most dangerous place we can be is when we feel sure we understand God completely. It's easy to mistake our church attendance, Bible knowledge, or years of faith for true spiritual wisdom. But what if our confidence is actually blocking us from hearing what God wants to teach us? Today, we'll explore how pride can sneak into our spiritual lives and prevent us from growing closer to God. This prayer time will help us examine our hearts and ask God to reveal where we might be relying on our own understanding instead of trusting His Spirit to guide us.
Short Devotional
Think about how a child learns to ride a bike. At first, they hold tight to their parents’ hands, trusting completely. But once they feel confident, they often push away help, even when they're still wobbly. We can do the same thing with God. When we've been believers for a while, we might start thinking we have all the answers. We quote verses, give advice, and feel sure about what God is doing. But are we still listening for His voice, or are we just repeating what we've always believed? The truth is, the more we really know God, the more we realize how much we don't understand about His ways.
Paul reminds us that "people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means." This verse isn't just about non-believers—it's a warning for all of us. Even as Christians, we can stop depending on God's Spirit and start depending on our own thinking. We can become spiritual but not Spirit-led. When we think we've figured out God's plan or His character, we might actually be closing our hearts to new things He wants to show us. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Am I still teachable, or have I become too comfortable with what I think I know?
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
I come to You knowing that You are always present with me, even when I forget to look for You. I realize that sometimes I act like I understand Your ways completely, when the truth is I still have so much to learn.
Forgive me for the times when I've been more confident in my own knowledge than in Your Spirit's guidance. I confess that I sometimes give advice or make decisions based on what I think is right, instead of asking You what You want me to do.
Help me see the difference between knowing facts about You and truly knowing You. Show me where pride has crept into my heart and made me think I don't need Your help anymore.
I don't want to be someone who sounds spiritual but isn't really listening to Your Spirit. Teach me to stay humble and curious about Your ways, even in areas where I feel sure I understand.
Thank You that You never stop teaching those who want to learn. Thank You for being patient with me when I think I know better than You do.
Help me remember that Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and Your ways are better than my ways. Give me a heart that stays open to correction and new understanding.
Help me depend on Your Spirit every day, not just when I'm confused or struggling.
I pray this with confidence in the name of Jesus, who perfectly showed us what it means to depend on You completely.
Amen.
Journaling Prompts
Think of a time when you gave spiritual advice to someone—were you sharing what God was showing you in that moment, or were you repeating something you've always believed?
What would it look like for you to approach your daily decisions with the same dependence on God that you had when you first became a believer?
How do you tell the difference between growing in wisdom and growing in pride about spiritual things?
The beautiful truth is that God loves to teach us when we come to Him with open hearts. He doesn't want us to stay stuck in spiritual pride, but He also doesn't want us to lose confidence in His love for us. As we learn to balance knowledge with humility, we discover that depending on God's Spirit isn't a weakness—it's the strongest place we can be. May this week bring fresh insights as you listen for His voice with new ears.
Until next time,
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May He make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you and give you peace
God Bless!
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