pride & vanity - chasing it down

As I referenced at the end of the second post (August 8th) in this mini-series, I've become aware of a sequence that can be seen during my encounters with people. For this post, whilst both pride & vanity are at work, I believe they have the same generic root - that is somebody other than God being in focus. Given that, I have, for the most part, lumped them together.

The sequence starts as follows...

I think & say whatever I want to but with no awareness as to any p&v that's driving my words

Then moves on to...

I think & say whatever I want to, am aware of p&v driving my words but don't care

I think & say whatever I want to, being aware what p&v is driving my words & caring but not enough to stop saying them

I think & start to say whatever I want but aware of what of it is driven by p&v, care enough to stop part way through sentences

I think of what I want to say, am aware of any p&v behind those words & care enough to stop before I start

I believe I'm somewhere between these last two (more of that in a moment). Given that, I can only presume what comes thereafter, but I reckon we'd be looking at...

a pure heart out of which comes pure thoughts & pure words with no filtering required!

Over the past couple of weeks I have sought to face the demons of p&v, some of that in public. I've had to come to terms with the bigger issue in my life being vanity. On the way into August, I'd have been expecting these four posts to be a battle with my pride.

Going forward, I'm still working out my theology on what's the 'active' part in addressing my pride & vanity. Thus far...

1) I don't believe it's primarily about trying harder - clearly conformity to Christlikeness is in order

'transformed into the same image from glory to glory'    (2 Cor 3:18 ASV)

2) I must allow the Holy Spirit to live within & cultivate His presence

'the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out' (Luke 3:16 MSG)

3) Giving God the top spot in life (pride & vanity - who's being uplifted) in every way possible is essential to displace any mistaken notion of pride (my Godlikeness)

4) As I love Him more, my love of self & for others will come out of that, chasing away the needs of vanity

5) Rather than the mere passing of time, I do believe intentional disciplines are essential

Within this, I'm at a pivotal point where to press on is painful. It requires me choosing to be less visibly 'virtuous'. My current state of stopping part way through sentences has to change - I'm going to need to die in silence.

Elvis said it best - 'a little less conversation, a little more action please.'

That's me done. Thank you for your patience as I've sort to 'work out my salvation'. My prayer is that we would all do the same as we continue on our pilgrimage.

Jonathan