Yesterday we looked at the high price of spiritual pride. This is a sin that leads to all the others. It is a part of just about every problem that we have. It is so much a part of our culture that it is very hard to recognize it in some parts of our lives. It is almost as if we never see it coming and don’t realize the damage that it has done. How can we deal with it?

Let me give to you a little exercise that I believe you will find helpful. When you get up in the morning, try to think and pray through this process. It certainly does not replace your quiet time but it is a good beginning. It is built around the letters in the word “SELF.” That is where most of our problems begin.

The “S” is for surrender. We begin by surrendering all that are and all that we have to the Lord for this day. We establish Him as Lord.

The “E” is for empty. This is a time of getting the stuff out of the way. We want to empty ourselves of anything that would keep us from serving Him. It is a time of confession and acknowledgment of our weaknesses before God.

The “L” is for lift. This is a time that you spend in praise and worship. You lift yourself to Him and you acknowledge who He is.

The “F” is for fill. Ephesians 5:18 commands us, “Be filled with the spirit.” The construction of that verse means that this is a continual process. We are to be continually seeking the energy and strength of the Lord in our lives.

You will find that this little exercise will make a tremendous difference in your life and give you the capacity to face the day in the power of the Lord.