Self-Wise – The Presidential Prayer Team

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. – Hosea 4:6

Most people are aware of the “self-esteem” movement in psychology. And certainly, it can be helpful to consciously put your view of self into a healthy context. However, some have taken it to the level of self-worship, turning a good self-image into an egocentric throne at the center of their universe. In that case, EGO as an acronym humorously stands for, “excluding God’s opinion!”

Disregarding God in exchange for human wisdom is at the core of original sin, “when the woman saw that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate (Genesis 3:6). Adam and Eve quickly discovered knowledge without God is deadly.

In 2013, it was determined world knowledge doubled every 13 months. Today, considering the velocity of technology, the capacity of man’s accessible knowledge doubles every 12 hours! Still, the words of wise King Solomon ring true, “he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

In a world of great knowledge and great sorrow, the answer you seek will not be found in a mirror. Only knowing God and His character brings healing to a sin-sick world. Jesus Christ paid the price for every person to know God, but some prefer to go their own way rather than accept Him. Solomon cautioned, “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him (Proverbs 26:12).

Pray for world leaders today, especially those in America, to humble themselves before God, seeking Him first above their own wisdom. Intercede for hearts to turn to Him as the hope for the future of this nation.

Today’s Verse: Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
    because you have rejected knowledge,
    I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
    I also will forget your children.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Luke 18:9-14

⁹He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³But the tax collector, standing far off,  would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”