Let's expose this deception of the world to the truth of God's Word and examine our own hearts.

Scripture

1 John 5:21

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

Exodus 20:1-3

And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”

Further reading: Colossians 3, Gal 6:1-10

Devotion

The first commandment is challenging us, who is number one? Who is the highest level and authority in our lives? Who is the greatest to whom we submit?

The book, “Hollowed Out: A Warning About America’s Next Generation,” written by high school teacher Jeremy Adams, explains the attitude of young people today often carries a post-modern conceit that the self does not need instructing instead it needs to be validated and it is “not ashamed to seek satiation.”

With no universal laws or moral codes, the self cannot be judged and demands not to be judged. Just as there is no higher goal or morals to strive for.

Pride doesn’t just separate us from God, it attempts to elevate our-self above God.

This description speaks of the pride with which we all struggle, self lies to us that we don’t need instructing, we only need to be validated. Self cannot be judged and demands not to be judged as self is supreme. And of course, self must be satiated, because after all, “you deserve it.”

This is idolatry and at the root of it is pride.

Pride is our greatest enemy as it makes God our enemy, because “God opposes the proud”. Pride doesn’t just separate us from God, it attempts to elevate our-self above God. But God gives grace to the humble, so let us humble ourselves before Him and keep away from anything that might take His place as King in our lives.

Repentance

Lord, I am ashamed at the way I have allowed selfish pride to dominate my life in so many areas. My fleshly self has reigned, and I have forgotten that You are my rightful King. I humbly ask your forgiveness. Grant me from now on, to live wholly to you, Gracious Lord.

Prayer

Dear Father, you are all wisdom, compassion and grace and I ask for your grace to accept the counsel of your Word and submit to your authority over my life. I thankfully give up my claim to everything else because my Lord and my God, you are enough. Lord Jesus, I yield myself to you and lay all at your feet.

Almighty Saviour, you are the one who opens the eyes of the blind and can pierce the heart of a sinner. We pray that you would take away the armour of the enemy and set the captives free from his hand. We cannot allow our loved ones to remain in captivity, nor can we allow so many precious souls to remain lost. Please send workers to the harvest. Show them where to go and with whom to speak. Rescue the lost and reclaim your wandering children. In your great mercy and the name of Jesus we ask.

Amen.

About The Prayer Campaign

We're joining together with hundreds of believers around Australia to humble ourselves, repent, seek God and pray for revival – a Jesus Revolution.

Each week the devotion will be exposing the deceptions of self-worship to the truth of Scripture as we deny self and radically follow Jesus. Learn more about the prayer series here.