Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend! It's time to announce the winner for September (where did the month go?):

Vanessa Anderson, congratulations! Contact me through my website and include your mailing address and we'll get your gift card in the mail within the next two weeks (you need to claim your prize before I announce next month's winner). Blessings to you!

As most of you know, I have a new radio show,Live the Promise with Susie Larson The program now airs 6 days a week! Join us every weekday from 2:30-3:00 CST, and on Saturdays from noon to one, KTIS AM 900, on the Faith Radio Network, or listen online at: www.faith900.com

You won't want to miss this Saturday's show. My guest is Rebecca Nichols Alonzo, author of the gripping true story, "The Devil in Pew Number Seven." Rebecca shares her unbelievable story of harassment, trauma, and forgiveness. Don't miss this show! 

Also, I want you to have the inside scoop. Be sure to check my Facebook page for a heads up on my weekly giveaways (that way you'll know when to call for a book you may want). I'll also post daily questions and may read your comments on the air. Let's do this together! 

Now on to my topic...

Lately I've been hanging around in Proverbs 3:3-10, just meditating on these verses and committing them to memory. As I prayed about this week's blog post, one verse repeatedly came to the forefront of my mind:

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil (verse 7). 

As I pondered this verse, thought through it a bit, and asked the Lord for clarity, this is what came to me: To be wise in our own eyes is to trust ourselves, to believe in ourselves (apart from God), and to rely on ourselves. In essence, it's to say, "I've got this." 

We are far too easily impressed with our efforts and are quite quick to rely on our own understanding of things. Especially when the wisdom needed involves our area of experience.

Now hear me correctly. It's okay and normal to feel a certain level of comfort with things we know. But where we get into trouble is when we find ourselves impressed with our own wisdom; when we feel pride over our own experiences; and when we allow what we know to define who we are.

Think about it. The devil got himself kicked out of heaven because he shifted his hope from God to himself; in essence he declared, "I've got this."

When our kids were growing up we earnestly taught them that pride was one of the worst attitudes they could embrace (because it was the very thing that sent the devil hurling from heaven). 

The Bible reminds us that we can do nothing of substance apart from Christ. And anything done apart from faith, is a sin (we should tackle that scripture one of these days). We cannot please the Father unless faith is present.

In other words, our core belief should not be one of "I've got this" but rather, "You've got me, Lord." Whether we know our way around a topic, or we find ourselves in over our heads, we can humbly declare, "You've got me, Lord. In all things, in all places, in every circumstance; in small offerings and abundant ones, in easy tasks and heroic feats, You've got me, Lord. I live to please You. I am thrilled that You carry me. And I don't want to breathe a breath of life without You in it. I'm so grateful that You've got me." 

 The rest of the verse reads: Fear the Lord and shun evil...

We fear the Lord by giving Him His proper place in our lives. We honor Him, respect Him, listen to Him, and trust Him. And we shun evil by putting giving the devil his proper place in our lives - under our feet. We refuse to entertain thoughts that elevate ourselves or our circumstances above the One who holds us every minute of the day.

And the next verse reads: This will bring health to your body and strength to your frame. 

Powerful stuff. We could spend weeks on this passage, no?

Have a blessed week and may the Lord fill you with wisdom from above! A wisdom that He owns but entrusts to you, knowing you'll humbly steward it well; giving all of the glory back to Him.

~Until next week...