Oh my Father! stretch out your all powerful arm in mercy and free me from the bonds of sin and death which hold me fast! You see that I am tired of trying to be good, that I don’t really try to resist the temptations of the evil one with all my might. And you know that my whole nature rebels against following you and serving you. But, oh Father! strengthen my feeble knees, put a new and holy faith in my heart and bring down my haughty nature to the very dust. You are my only refuge; therefore, listen, I pray you, to my prayer.
I am haughty and full of pride. I shrink from the suffering which I know is waiting for me. I look almost with disgust on the narrow, narrow path which I see lying out before me. I feel that I can never consent to become nothing for your name’s sake. But you, Oh Lord! are able to drive away all pride from every heart. Oh won’t you purify and wholly sanctify my heart and make me willing to become the very least of your servants that you may have all the glory and honor and praise for ever and ever world without end!
—Journal, 1849
Hannah Whitall Smith and Melvin Easterday Dieter, The Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life: The Unpublished Personal Writings of Hannah Whitall Smith (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
pride
Discipleship
This is a very good meditation from John G Butler on Discipleship.
Several Resolutions For Those Who Are Serious About Their Calling
William Law (1686-1761 A. D.) in his classic work, “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life” puts forth some thought-provoking ideas for the committed follower of Jesus Christ:
“The devout… are people who do not live to their own will, or in the way and spirit of the world, but only to the will of God. Such people consider God in everything, and make every aspect of their lives holy by doing everything in the name of God and in a way that conforms to God’s glory.”
“[The Savior and His apostles] teach us:
To renounce the world and be different in our attitudes and ways of life (Ephesians 4:17-24)
To renounce all its goods (Luke 14:26-33; 18:22, 23; Philippians 3:7, 8)
To fear none of its evils… (Luke 12:32; John 14:1, 27; 16:33; Hebrews 13:5, 6))
To have no value for its happiness (Psalm 37:1, 2, 7; 73:2-20; Proverbs 3:31; 24:1)
To be as newborn babes who are born into a new state of things (1 Peter 2:2, 3)
To live as pilgrims in spiritual watching, in holy fear, and heavenly aspiring after another life (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Peter 1:15-17)
To take up our cross daily, to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23, 24; John 12:25, 26)
To profess the blessedness of mourning, to seek the blessedness of poverty of spirit (Matthew 5:3, 4)
To forsake the pride and vanity of riches… (1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Proverbs 23:4)
To live in the most profound state of humility (Jeremiah 45:5; Matthew 18:2-4; Romans 12:3, 16; Galatians 6:14)
To rejoice in worldly sufferings (Acts 5:41; Matthew 5:10-12)
To reject the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17; Colossians 3:1, 2)
To bear injuries, to forgive and bless our enemies… (Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36; Romans12:14-21)
To give up our whole hearts and affections to God (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13; 1 John 5:2-4)
To strive to enter through the straight gate into a life of eternal glory.” (Matthew 7:13, 14)
Facts of the Matter: Daily Devotionals.
John Gaucher 