I took this from Reuel's blog. Reuel is an amazing person who lives radically for God. Check out his blog sometime (see links). I met him in KC a couple of years ago, and have enjoyed reading about his life since.

Below is a challenging piece (for me anyway) to meditate on.


Excerpted from:
The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss


Proud People Vs. Broken & Humble People


Focus on Failures of others
Vs.
Overwhelmed with sense of personal spiritual need


Critical & fault-finding spirit; looking at other’s faults with a microscope; own with a telescope
Vs.
Compassion- being able to forgive much knowing how much Grace has been given


Self-righteous; looking down on others
Vs.
Esteeming others better than self


Independent spirit; self-sufficient spirit
Vs.
Possessing a dependent spirit; recognizing need for others


Claim entitlements; Rights & possessing a demanding spirit
Vs.
Yielding rights; possessing a meek spirit


Have to prove “I’m right!”
Vs.
Willing to yield the right to be right


Self-protective of own time, rights, and reputation
Vs.
Self-denying


Desire to be served
Vs.
Motivated to serve others


Desire to be successful
Vs.
Motivated to be faithful and to make others a success


Desire self-advancement
Vs.
Desire to promote others


Possessing a drive to be recognized and appreciated
Vs.
Having a sense of personal unworthiness; thrilled that God would use them at all


Wounded when others are promoted & them overlooked
Vs.
Eager for others to get the credit; rejoicing when others are
lifted up; promoted


Have subconscious feeling, “This organization is privileged to have me and my gifts”
Vs.
Heart attitude of “I don’t deserve to have a part in this thing”


Thinking of what they can do for God
Vs.
Knowing they have nothing to offer God except brokenness


Confident in how much they know
Vs.
Humbled by how much they have to learn


Self-conscious
Vs.
Not concerned with self at all


Keep others at arms’ length
Vs.
Willing to risk getting close to others and take risks of loving intimately


Quick to blame others
Vs.
Accept personal responsibility and seeing own wrong in situations


Unapproachable or defensive when criticized
Vs.
Receiving criticism as constructive; with humble spirit


Concerned with being respectable; what others think;
Vs.
Concerned with being real; only what God thinks, matters


Working to protect reputation
Vs.
Willing to die to reputation


Find it difficult to share spiritual need with others
Vs.
Willing to be transparent; open with others as God directs


Careful that no one finds out when they’ve sinned- constant cover up
Vs.
Once broken, not caring who knows or finds out; willing to be exposed because of nothing to lose


Have a hard time saying “I was wrong; could you please forgive me?
Vs.
Quick to admit failure and seek forgiveness needed


Tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin
Vs.
Able to acknowledge specifics when confessing sin


Concerned about the consequences of sin
Vs.
Grieved over cause of sin at it’s root


Not remorseful over sin, but sorry they were caught or found out
Vs.
Truly genuinely repentant over sin, evidenced in forsaking same


Wait for others to come to ask forgiveness when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationship
Vs.
Taking initiative toward reconciliation when misunderstanding or conflict in relationships (inevitable) occurs- quick to get to the Cross, no matter how wrong the other


Compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor
Vs.
Comparing themselves with Holy Standard of Almighty God; feeling desperate need for His Mercy


Blind to their true heart condition
Vs.
Walking in the Light


Think there’s nothing to repent over / of
Vs.
Realizing continual need of heart attitude of repentance


Don’t think they personally need revival, but everyone else sure does
Vs.
Continually sensing personal need for encounter with God; for refreshing or His Holy Spirit