BBD 09.30.13 Above Average (Classic)

#1 · September 30, 2013, 3:31 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on September 30, 2013, 3:31 pm
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net

www.theburningbush.org

The
Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating
15 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush
Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more than 14,000
subscribers across the world.

You can
leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at www.theburningbush.net.

There is
a translation tool on theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of
all of the pages.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2006

09.30.13

Above Average

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of
you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."Therefore,
humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:5-6.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out
not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. -
Philippians 2:3-4.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray
and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14.

In a poll conducted by the Washington Post, it was found
that most people who live in the United States think they are above average in
many areas of their lives.

In the area of honesty - 94% thought they were "above
average." In common sense - 89% thought they were "above
average." In actual intelligence - 86% thought they were "above
average." In physical looks/beauty - 79% thought they were "above
average." Of course, now we know something else about these people.
What do you think that might be?

According to the results of the Washington Post poll you
could probably argue that of the people in the United States only 6 to 21% of
them have that quality called, humility. Of course, those lacking in
that quality appear to be making up for it in thinking well of themselves.

Psychologists will tell you that a good self-image is
important to maintaining good mental health. It now appears that the self-image
of many may have been over-developed. A proper self-image is vital for many
reasons. Thinking rightly about yourself is important in making life decisions.
A false view of yourself could lead you to take actions that you should not
take or fail to take actions that you should.

One of those actions that a faulty self-image will
prevent you from taking is prayer. If you are self-made, self-important, above
average in every area of life - why would you need the help of anyone, even the
help of God? However, humility, and a lower than average self-image appears to
be what God is looking for in His most special servants.

In Micah 6:8 we are told, "He has
shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Then, in 1 Peter we have this, "God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

In that great verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14 we have what are
traditionally thought of to be the requirements for revival. The very first
requirement is that God’s people, "humble
themselves." The second requirement is that God’s people,
"pray." The second and third requirements are to seek God, and
to turn from their wicked ways. Perhaps this is why we are in such great need
of revival? Because of our above average self-image, we see no need to humble
ourselves, certainly not before God, and therefore we see no need to pray. If
that is the condition of our hearts how likely is it that we would have a
desire to seek God or to turn from our "wicked
ways?" Not very!

A key to living in harmony with other men and women and
with God is very simple but its practice has grown increasingly rare. Humility,
a rare quality that is growing even rarer. Do you have it?

Copyright © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
No matter what the size your church, Ed will come on a love offering basis for
a revival or to share his testimony in the continental United States. You can
make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com View LinkedIn profile with
endorsements at http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Many prayer
needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You
can also post your prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of
prayer - please pray for me.).

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

--

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org

Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

http://www.theburningbush.net

http://www.theburningbush.org

The
Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating
15 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush
Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more than 14,000
subscribers across the world.

You can
leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at http://www.theburningbush.net.

There is
a translation tool on theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of
all of the pages.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2006

09.30.13

Above Average

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of
you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."Therefore,
humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:5-6.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out
not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. -
Philippians 2:3-4.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray
and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14.

In a poll conducted by the Washington Post, it was found
that most people who live in the United States think they are above average in
many areas of their lives.

In the area of honesty - 94% thought they were "above
average." In common sense - 89% thought they were "above
average." In actual intelligence - 86% thought they were "above
average." In physical looks/beauty - 79% thought they were "above
average." Of course, now we know something else about these people.
What do you think that might be?

According to the results of the Washington Post poll you
could probably argue that of the people in the United States only 6 to 21% of
them have that quality called, humility. Of course, those lacking in
that quality appear to be making up for it in thinking well of themselves.

Psychologists will tell you that a good self-image is
important to maintaining good mental health. It now appears that the self-image
of many may have been over-developed. A proper self-image is vital for many
reasons. Thinking rightly about yourself is important in making life decisions.
A false view of yourself could lead you to take actions that you should not
take or fail to take actions that you should.

One of those actions that a faulty self-image will
prevent you from taking is prayer. If you are self-made, self-important, above
average in every area of life - why would you need the help of anyone, even the
help of God? However, humility, and a lower than average self-image appears to
be what God is looking for in His most special servants.

In Micah 6:8 we are told, "He has
shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Then, in 1 Peter we have this, "God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

In that great verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14 we have what are
traditionally thought of to be the requirements for revival. The very first
requirement is that God’s people, "humble
themselves." The second requirement is that God’s people,
"pray." The second and third requirements are to seek God, and
to turn from their wicked ways. Perhaps this is why we are in such great need
of revival? Because of our above average self-image, we see no need to humble
ourselves, certainly not before God, and therefore we see no need to pray. If
that is the condition of our hearts how likely is it that we would have a
desire to seek God or to turn from our "wicked
ways?" Not very!

A key to living in harmony with other men and women and
with God is very simple but its practice has grown increasingly rare. Humility,
a rare quality that is growing even rarer. Do you have it?

Copyright © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
No matter what the size your church, Ed will come on a love offering basis for
a revival or to share his testimony in the continental United States. You can
make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com View LinkedIn profile with
endorsements at http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Many prayer
needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You
can also post your prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of
prayer - please pray for me.).

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org