2 Corinthians 10:17-18 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
When things go especially well or I feel confident in an idea, it’s a small step to go from being grateful and recognizing God’s blessing, to being self-confident, self-congratulatory, and boastful. The worldly way is to commend myself, to crave the approval of others, to elbow rivals out of the way, to fight for what I think should be mine. But Jesus emptied himself (Phil. 2:7). At work I have sometimes felt a strong urge to advocate for myself, to even gloat a bit. This is a foolish – and dangerous – temptation. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition” (Phil. 2:3).
Father, you have led to me to this career, this job, this exact circle of colleagues, and these circumstances with their positives and negatives. All I have is from you. Please guide me today. Keep me from sin. Let me make much of you today.