Not Your Own

The Lord is with you, not because of any merit of your own, but because of His love. Past, present, and future, His all encompassing, full coverage love surrounds you.  God's love for you depends upon Him, not you. 

This love edifies, lifts, and grants you status in His eyes; status that is not of you, but of Him. Love is His gift to you, so that you have no reason for pride.  It is possible to be humbled and simultaneously glorified by God's love, but you must remember the glory in which you participate is God's glory and not your own. 

Do not fall to the snares of success.  Humble yourself before God, and He will lift you up.  Serve others, and He will cause you to be served, not for your own sake, but for His.  There is no task too small (inconsequential) for you to perform.  Scrub toilets, mop floors, serve others,  and do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.   

Your beauty is not your own.  Bear it with humility, trusting the One who has given you strength.  God is with you.

"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you" (Romans 12:3).  

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).