Different Things God is teaching Me

BECAUSE I AM GOOD OR...BECAUSE HE IS GOD?

-Toting our merits rather than thanking His Mercy

~

When we see success, whether in physical or spiritual terms, in our lives, our initial response should not be like the Pharisee in the temple and presume it is due to our goodness; because God, through David, said our goodness is nothing apart from Him. (Psalm 16:2) Our righteousness comes from God (Isaiah 54:17)

Rather, to those moments and seasons when life seems to be going our way, our walk with God feels natural to our minds, the pursuit to be holy and bringing Him pleasure is easy from our hearts, receiving surplus financial blessings, etc. our initial response ought to be humble thanksgiving to God for giving His mercy.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." ~ James 1:17

"Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You." ~I Chronicles 29:12‭-‬14

It is a possibility that God is rewarding you with blessings for past obedience and present faithfulness on your part. It is an equal possibility that God is giving you blessings, though you have transgressed His Word.

"...for your Father in heaven makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." ~Matthew 5:45

"(The living God) who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” ~Acts 14:16‭-‬17

“Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people." ~Deuteronomy 9:4‭-‬6

We must not remove the guard from our hearts nor relax the reins on our minds, to indulge in prideful presumption and vain self exultation. But rather, we must "ascribe to the Lord strength...the glory due His name." (Psalm 29:1-2) If we are blessed because we may have been right with God, we should let God exalt us and not let our own selves do so.

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth [or your own mind, could also be said]. A stranger, and not your own lips." ~Proverbs 27:2

"Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen." ~Proverbs 25:6‭-‬7

"It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory." ~Proverbs 25:27

"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." ~James 4:6‭, ‬10

There is no difference between believers and unbelievers in what determines how either receives God's blessings. The thing that binds them together, or overshadows both, is GOD'S MERCY; not our merit.

"Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands." ~Job 34:19

"If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?" ~Job 35:6‭-‬7

Do not be inclined to presume your goodness is what caused this moment or season of good fortune, victory, financial success to come but be willing to regularly humble yourself by taking that crown of undeserved, abundant, blessing that God has given you and cast it at His feet like all in Heaven are doing. You are unworthy and He is eternally worthy. Make regular intercession for your own heart and mind as Job did with his children, pray Psalm 139:23-24 and ask God to reveal anything in you that has offended Him and transgressed His Word.
God will be pleased and glorified by such humble spirit and truth worship. He will lift you up even further. And the higher He takes you, do not then taint and twist the merciful attention He shows you by attemptting to spotlight yourself before Him or the world. Daily crucify the prideful flesh that ever seeks to reign over you and exalt itself against the knowledge of God which is that He alone is to be glorified and it is you alone that must be humbled.

"Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant..." ~Genesis 32:9‭-‬10

"For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones." ~Isaiah 57:15

"Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” " ~Psalms 70:4