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Sample PackIs It Time To Lay Down Your Pride?
Remember, an angelic being is explaining to Daniel future events. He revealed four future emperors, Xerxes from Persia, Alexander the Great from Greece, Ptolemy from Egypt, and Seleucus from Syria. Then we learn about the arranged marriage between Berenice and Antiochus II that ends in catastrophe. And Ptolemy III takes revenge for the murder of his sister Berenice invading Syria. Then the sons of Seleucus from Syria, Seleucus III Ceraunus, and Antiochus the Great continued the wars with the Ptolemy empire in Egypt. Then in the following text, which I will read next, this happens. Ptolemy IV Philopater is going to slaughter the Syrian armies in the north. And after him, the Seleucid empire will rise, and as soon as Ptolemy IV Philopater dies, his son Ptolemy V Epiphanes takes the throne at age five. At this moment, the Syrian empire sees the opportunity to invade and destroy them.
But here's how the text reads.
Then the king of the south (i.e., Ptolemy IV Philopater), moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north (i.e., Seleucus Cerauhus and Antiochus the Great). And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. For the king of the north (i.e., Antiochus Magnus) shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies. — Daniel 11:11-13
So aside from the prophecy and the leaders inferred in this text, a few words captured my attention. Words like "rage," "fight," and "his heart shall be exalted." Everything we read about here is born from longstanding wounds that have matured into hatred, leading to rage, war, and pride. These leaders are men with so much built-up animosity that they cannot stop the endless cycle of rage and war. It's a constant back-and-forth battle where tens of thousands of people and children are slaughtered because of their animosity and pride.
Fellas, this is the problem with our pride. Pride perpetuates evil and inflicts endless devastation onto future generations. But God's man knows this. And he knows how to end it. He ends it not by waging more war but by fighting the hardest battle he'll ever fight — the battle against the arrogance within his heart. Today consider what arrogant attitude and animosity you have clung to for too long. Isn't it time to lay it down and humble yourself before God before the cycle continues into the next generation?
ASK THIS: What animosity and pride do you need to lay down?
DO THIS: Lay down your pride and stop the endless cycle.
PRAY THIS: God, I bring my animosity and pride to you.
PLAY THIS: Lay It All Down.
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Laying down of my plan for His greater plan.
It begins and sustains itself through submission and surrender to Jesus and ALL His commands. Our lives are not our lives! They are His to live through us, by way of submission and surrender. We must aim to become and remain men of THE Word, which qualifies us as His disciples and leads to TRUE and lasting freedom in Him. (John 8:31-32). I am NOT my own and this is NOT my home! God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6).
I am just so tired of the feeling That I’m just treading water to survive. I repeatedly fail and fall.
Hey Tim you are not alone! We all have seasons of life where we feel like we’re just treading water. I’m praying that you find strength and hope in Lord today. Keep your eyes and ears open to Him today my friend.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you that ine ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.
Hey Tim, we ALL have that feeling. And it is most certainly exhausting. Jesus said in multiple ways, noted here in John, that in Him is where we find peace. In God’s word. If you get into it, not just read but meditate almost transporting yourself into it, you can find some peace. Find it in Hos accomplishment of overcoming the world and death that we might live. You will not find any lasting peace in your own accomplishments I am just afraid. God is the only good. We are stuck in flesh and a fallen world. But Holy Spirit is in us if we ask and allow and you can have peace and joy in the midst of suffering through flesh and the world.
It takes time. It takes work and intentional living, but we can find joy and peace in Him. Keep trying. Keep working. Study the word. Find a small group to study with. It makes a difference even if you are not a “social person” as I am not myself. Reach out to God and to fellow Christians and just keep fighting. Just keep fighting. Our home and eternal peace and joy is waiting for us. Keep fighting. You can do it.
I have been where you are most of my life. I am just thankful that I am a child of God and trials will come and go but I remain steadfast in faith because God’s word shall not return void. I sacrifice my life to Him daily and give all glory to my Father. In doing so, I have eternal peace even in tribulation. May the grace of God be ever present in your life daily.
I right there with you Tim! I get so tired sometimes l want to give up! But l try to remember that God has a plan and he loves me. Romans 8:28 I’ll pray for you and you pray for me!
That’s okay Tim. We all fail and fall. Just keep getting back up. One day at a time. Trust that hardship is a pathway to piece. Obstacles are made FOR us; to give us what we need once we work through it.
Stop fighting people, places and things we have no control of. See what to let go and let God have. See what should not go on and end it.
You are a worthy child of God who does not let his children fail.