Yesterday I said that the problem with pride is that we can have it and not be aware of it, a blind spot. Like high blood pressure, you think you are fine until you get it checked and you find out that it is in the danger area. I fantasized a bit about a device that would measure our pride level and we could use such a device to check all preachers, teachers, and singers before they taught or sang to make sure God would bless them. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if, right before I was scheduled to preach, my pride level was checked, and it was way too high , so someone else had to take my place? As they began, they announced that I wouldn’t preach because my pride registered 160/100. Twenty-four years ago, I weighed 247 lbs, and after much nagginge from Patty, I went to the doctor and had a checkup; my blood pressure was high, as well as my blood sugar and cholesterol. The doctor wanted to put me on some medication but I suggested that I try exercise and weight loss first. I started running that very night, ran the Hood to Coast relay with a team from the church four months later, and a couple of months later I ran my first of twelve marathons which I did over the next 15 years. It didn’t take long before I had lost 40 lbs and my blood pressure was down to 110/70.

So if such a pride measuring device really existed and I really did have a very high measurement what would I do to bring it down so that I could preach again? I don’t think running and dieting would help much, but I should have some plans. Here is my plan for pursuing the character trait of humility.

1. I will read the Bible daily with a schedule plan, pondering what I read. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen.

2. Psalms 119:11 “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” I will identify Bible verses that speak directly to pride and humility and memorize them and then meditate on them daily so that the power of God’s Word will work on my heart from the inside out, such as Philippians 2:3-8 and 1 Peter 5:5-6

3. I will journal three times a week minimum and write about events during the week where I got my feelings hurt by someone and found myself thinking about it over and over or was offended to the point that I verbally responded negatively. I will write about the situation examining my own life and motives and confessing to God all sin of pride that I uncover.

4. I will worship and praise God sincerely at weekend worship services, and I will sing as loud as I can. I will spend at least 15 minutes with God in prayer every day, and I will spend much of that time thanking and praising God for all the blessings He has brought into my life.

5. I will write at least one note each week to someone thanking them for how they helped or blessed me that week.

6. Every morning I will pray a prayer of commitment to the Lord declaring Him King of my life, and that I will follow and obey Him that day. I will make several specific commitments to Him, and one of them will be that I will diligently pursue humility as a character trait and ask for His power to succeed.

7. Whenever I become aware of someone being upset at me for anything, I will take the initiative and seek peace and reconciliation.