Humility
Nora made me a really thoughtful present for my birthday.
It reads:
If we were humble,
nothing would change us -
neither praise nor discouragement.
If someone were to criticize us,
We would not feel discouraged.
If someone were to praise us,
We also would not feel proud.
Another friend of mine wrote one of my favourite verses in my birthday card:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, nor the rich man boast of his riches, nor the strong man boast of his strength, but let him who boasts boast in this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these i delight," declares the Lord. -Jeremiah something:something
I've just been hit with too many notes about humility to not care.
According to A.W. Tozer and other like-minded authors, humility isn't just about how we shouldn't boast about our strengths, but also, belittling ourselves and constantly dwelling on how crap we are is also sinning against God. It's coz we're being focused on ourselves, and being sorry for our selves. That's the core of sin and all that is wrong in the world: the self.
I think God's been hinting to me at something there.