Boasting can be ugly

January 16, 2026

Maria 2 Corinthians 10, Glorifying God, Hope, Psalm 34 , , 1 Comment

“My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.” — Psalm 34:2 ESV

One hundred percent, I want David’s proclamation to be true about me. I’m even memorizing this entire Psalm, writing a verse a day on an index card and practicing in quiet moments.

But yesterday, I was living out this truth instead:

“Maria makes her boast about how productive she is; let those around her hear and be impressed!”

By nightfall, the Lord had totally humbled me. The first time was late in the afternoon. I boasted to a friend who had texted to find out how our granddaughter was doing after her surgery. I hadn’t had time to check on Chloe until late in the afternoon because I had been so busy! Yet, in all my self-imposed busyness, I took the time to text this friend a list of everything that had kept me occupied.

Immediately, the Holy Spirit convicted me. I quickly sent another message to Ali and apologized. You would think that would have been enough for me to keep my mouth shut about myself.

Nope. Later on, we headed out to church after an early supper—Mike to choir practice and I, to join the weekly prayer meeting. After 30 minutes of focused prayer, while still lingering at our table, one gal asked me what the rest of my week looked like. I rattled off all the very productive activities I had ahead of me. The urge to impress took over as I regaled her and the others with the rich and productive, retirement life I choose to lead. 

Later, lying in bed with no distractions, I cringed when the Lord brought to remembrance the two times I could have boasted in the Lord instead of myself. That would have helped others to trust more in our good God. Instead, I wasted opportunities to bring honor to Him. 

While pondering what drives me to want to brag on myself, I think the sin behind this boasting is that I’m impressed with myself! From my heart, my mouth blurts out vanities.

As I read in a book recently, the only solution might be duct tape! And to stop thinking that anyone cares about the nitty gritty of my days. People are hungry, rather, for solid hope, the kind that only comes from the Lord.

As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” 2 Corinthians 10:17

Feed on Him, the book, a year’s collection of daily Bible reflections, is available on Amazon in print or kindle.

Are you growing more holy, more like Jesus? How can you tell?

March 13, 2023

Maria Ephesians 4, Holiness, Philippians 4, Spiritual Growth , , , , , , 1 Comment

Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 BSB

A friend of mine has a daughter who drives herself. She is a very hard worker, skilled and competent. But she is too busy. Her mom can see that, as can I. Maybe that’s why an image of an earlier Maria popped into my mind this morning: ‘Grim Maria’.

This is a well-rehearsed character from maybe 15 years ago. Pretty much on a regular basis, I would set myself up with a list of ‘stuff that has to get done’.  Where did all these tasks come from?  I don’t remember. What I do recall is the belief: ‘If it’s gonna be, it’s gotta be up to me!’  My MO (modus operandi) never changed: work past fatigue and then feel resentful.  Mike called that persona, “Grim Bean” (Bean being my pet name).

How refreshing this morning to realize I haven’t seen that Maria in some years.  But thinking about my friend’s daughter, a busy mom and medical professional, I CAN recall being in her shoes. She probably truly believes she has no other choice, that there is no alternative to all she drives herself to get done.  That’s how irrational my thinking was.

Did I set out to quit playing ‘Grim Bean’?  No, that’s the marvel of it all. Since Mike and I as well as our adult sons have moved toward a more reformed theology, we’ve all come to appreciate the fact of God’s sovereignty, his total control over everything that happens in the universe.

Does that sound frightening, that an all-powerful God actually directs every molecule that exists?  Not at all.   This God is not a cold, impersonal force, directing events, nature and people, but a personal, loving and good Father who kindly offers his supernatural help to all his children who depend on him.

As this truth of who God is has sunk into my heart, I have relaxed more and off-loaded much of my life to him. For example, I don’t rush anymore, trying to cram more stuff into my day. I accept with ease what doesn’t get done.  I actually feel at peace with Jesus’ leadership and his setting of the pace of what we do together. I’m learning that none of what I do is truly ‘up to me’.

Our pastor’s sermon yesterday reenforced this posture of yielding control to God. Jim focused on the practice of forgiveness as laid out in Ephesians 4:32. He emphasized that the actions preceding Paul’s exhortation to offer forgiveness along with kindness uses the verb form of ‘Let….. (this action) take place in.’ It’s passive. It follows then that this behavioral change is something the Holy Spirit affects in us. We don’t work at it. We allow God to change us as we meditate on how gracious his initial forgiveness was and the fact that daily he welcomes us to confess and receive his cleansing. His compassions and mercies are as regular and welcome as the dawn’s early light.

I think often about the wonder and gift of having a heavenly Father and God who is in charge of both the universe and me. This is how I can relax throughout my day.  I believe that my inward state is transforming how I present to the world around me.  A gentle Maria is more the norm.

Can you see why I felt so encouraged this morning when the the Holy Spirit prompted the memory of a grim version of me? “Maria, this is evidence of spiritual growth!” 

Nevertheless, God is still about the business of growing my humility, letting me know that plenty of change is built into his holiness curriculum. One of my sins that occasionally reoccurs reminds me of the former Maria.  It’s the desire for someone to feel sorry for me and to offer me praise mixed with pity.  Namely, Mike.  Here’s how that looks. 

Yesterday after having some friends over for an early Sunday lunch, I set out to do some food prep. Two tasks morphed into several so that by the time I finished cleaning up in the kitchen it was almost 3 in the afternoon. Mike was coming down the stairs and I felt the urge to say with a staged self-deprecating sound, “I just finished doing food prep!” But by grace, the Holy Spirit poked me gently and I resisted that temptation. 

Yes, that indicates more growth. But it still shows me that I need to be mindful of how I self-assign tasks. No one is expecting me to spend that kind of time in the kitchen, not even Jesus. In fact, I didn’t even check with him first.  Now that I’m writing this, I see I should have asked, “Jesus, how do you want me to spend this Sabbath afternoon?”

Definitely God is transforming me. But with each step forward, the Holy Spirit gently shows me what the next assignment is. Glad it’s not all up to me!