²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. ²⁷ Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. ²⁸ God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. ²⁹ As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Dear God, I was talking to a friend yesterday about doing these prayer journals and how sometimes when others read them they tell me that they think I am a little hard on myself or ask if I’m okay. I always tell encourage them to spend some time writing down their prayers before you and do their best to honestly examine their own hearts before you. I think they will find that it is impossible to sit before you in an earnest manner and not feel a need to repent before you and find the things in their actions, thoughts, or attitudes that need corrected. And it’s a good thing. It’s quite therapeutic.

That’s what I thought of when I read verse 29 from 1 Corinthians 1 this morning: As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. No, I do not boast in myself. Oh, I’m tempted to. I’m tempted to point out to people how great of a person I am. How smart I am. How good I am at this, that, or the other. When I guest preach or sing a Sunday school class, I have to spend a lot of time in prayer about my ego and my motives for teaching or preaching. On my way to the church, one of the songs I always sing is Casting Crowns’s “Nobody“: I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody all about somebody who saved my soul. Ever since you rescued me, you’ve given me a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus.

Father, be with me today. For every person I interact with, make me the man you need me to be. Love them through me. Love me through them. Teach me through them. Make me an instrument of blessing to the world, but not for my glory–for yours. Oh, Father, today, I am just a nobody trying to tell everybody all about somebody who saved my soul.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen