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| Pride and Vanity |
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
Lord,
So often I have wondered how those in the stories of the Bible knew it was you. How the prophets knew it was you, how the saints knew it was you, how Joseph knew it was you in his dream. Why do people take those words spoken by these people as truly coming from you? How these people knew it was you. But at the same time so many doubted them, at the time but many did not believe until they looked back and put all the pieces together and even then there are plenty who do not believe.
Lord, I see that they themselves knew because they knew. And they did not allow the doubt of others to infect themselves. They stayed true to you, through all the evil that was done to them. They stayed true to you even if they ran from you at times. I can totally understand why they ran from you at times. This world has a powerful pull. Pride and vanity are the most serious evils in this world. Those two sins, I believe, control this world. At least from my perspective and maybe it is only my perspective because those are the two sins that have held me captive for so long. They have been beneath so many of my actions and inactions, my fears, my self-righteousness, even my religiosity and scrupulosity.
Lord, help me to trust you more and to trust me more. Help me trust what I know no matter what others may believe. Help me let go of my pride and vanity, of caring what others think of me, of seeking their approval.
Lord, I am walking in unfamiliar territory; help me to keep my eyes on you, to quit looking down and to quit looking to others for their approval and acceptance. Help me see that I am a gift to the world as much as anyone else. Hel p me see and used the gifts you’ve given me. Help me accept others for who and what they are right now. Help me love others in their imperfection no matter who they are. Help me live in reality and accept it for what it is, not what I wish it to be.
I will, I am, I do
And one more thing, help me be patient with myself and others. AMEN
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