Group 7 – Section 2

Caution: The priests “…transformed the beauty of His ornaments into pride…” (Ezek. 7:20).

…Heart, rejoice in the truth that I don’t have to look at the presence of God around me and turn it into subtle forms of self-directed praise. (pause to hear, believe, and love it as the truth!)

…Heart, rejoice that after spiritual victories, I don’t have to turn my eyes back toward myself and feed on my human glory. My eyes are on You, Lord. I love that You are with me here.

…Heart, rejoice in the truth that I don’t use the power of God or signs and wonders as reason for human pride. (pause to hear, believe, and love it as the truth!)

…Heart, rejoice in the truth that I don’t have to turn and exalt myself because God’s righteousness is with me, and I repent of exalting myself with pride because God’s love is upon me. Instead of pride and self-directed praise, I set my heart to feed myself by receiving God’s presence through joy and praise that builds my faith about receiving more, and that the glory and greatness of God around me is FAR beyond any earthly glory, I could ever find here.

…Heart, rejoice that I don’t have to take the protection of God and turn it into human pr de. I will trust God. I set my eyes to keep looking dependently at You, Lord.

…Heart, rejoice that I don’t have to praise myself inside because “…God…gives strength and power to the people…” (Psa. 68:35), and my praise can go toward Him. (pause to let yourself feel confident and enjoy being reassured by God’s presence!)

…Heart, rejoice that I don’t have to exalt myself with internal praise because God is with me here.

…Heart, rejoice that I can turn my heart from wanting to take the demonstration of God’s power and use it as an endorsement from God that I turn into self-directed praise.

…Heart, rejoice that I don’t have to take the majesty of God around me and turn it into human pride. I love that the Kingdom of God is here and that I can keep my eyes on You, Lord, and not on myself.

…Heart, rejoice to turn from and die to self-directed praise—even attitudes of self-praise for little reasons. Lord, I praise You because You are God—not me. You are a better refuge and strength… (pause to let yourself feel confident from trusting that God’s presence is all around you here!)

…Heart, I don’t have to be drawn into sin and enticed by lust (James 1:14). Like King David, I can drink from God and “satisfy” myself with the nearness of His glory and power (Ps. 63:1-2, 5). But for this, holiness depends entirely on my faith in God’s willingness to draw near abundantly enough to keep satisfying me so that I don’t get drawn away by the lesser glory of sin. So I listen to my praise toward God when thanking Him for His grace to draw near to me here freely. God wants holiness for me, so I am telling myself to believe and treasure the grace of God that gives His presence and kingdom freely; and, I am praising God for this, not myself. Only by actively receiving can I “…put on the armor of light…put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom. 13:12, 14).

…Instead of praise toward myself, I will “…Ascribe greatness to our God!” (Deut. 32:3); “y soul shall make its boast in the Lord…” (Psa. 34:2); With my whole being I will”…Praise God in His sanctuary…” (Psa. 150:1).

…Heart, love that I can humble myself by receiving God’s presence and resting in Him. Lord, “You are my God…I exalt you” (Psa. 118:28 NIV); Heart hear this: “He is your praise…” (Deut. 10:21); Rather than praise toward myself, I will “…continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God…” (Heb. 13:15); “From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the Lord is to be praised” (Psa. 113:3); Rather than myself Lord, “will be glad…in You…O most High” (Psa. 9:2); “…My lips will praise You” (Psa. 63:3);”…I will…praise You yet more and more” (Psa. 71:14);”…I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all the gods” (Psa. 135:5); I will live, “to the end that…[I] would be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1: 2). (pause to feel reassured by it!)