"Do you know who I am?"

The pride of your heart has deceived you… Obadiah 1:3

Recently, I read a story about a star college athlete who showed up at the NFL combine and was told to go home because of a confrontation he had at the hospital during his physical examinations.  This player exchanged coarse words with a male nurse while waiting to be served.  He was frustrated because of the long wait time and wanted the nurse to give him preferential treatment.  When the nurse refused, the player vainly shouts, “Do you know who I am?” 

As I pondered these words from Obadiah, my mind went back to this story.  Obadiah was sent to prophesy to the Edomites.  These people were proud of their wealth and riches, which they had obtained by robbing others. Their confidence was in their military skills, friends and allies.  They lived in a strong fortress. They thought they were secure and no enemy could come to them.  They were deceived. And, God sent Obadiah to warn them about their false sense of security.

 
Thinking back over our coaching journey I remember a time when the pride of our hearts deceived us. When my coach began his career he quickly moved up the ranks.  By his 3^rd job we were pretty sure it would only be a matter of time before he was coaching at a Power 5 school.  He would always talk about all the relationships he had and all the people who knew him.  His confidence was in his skills, friends and network.  We were flying high and never imagined the detour our journey would take. When his 3^rd job came to an end instead of moving up the ranks, we went down by our standards.  It was such a disbelief.  No one we trusted could help us.  Nothing we tried changed our fate.

By his 4^th job, I knew the Lord took us there to deal with the issues in our heart.  

“Though you seem to soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down. The Lord declares.¨ Obadiah 1:4

Ladies, the bible has a lot to say about pride and having a haughty spirit.  Whenever we stray from the truths in God’s word, there are always consequences.  I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there is any hidden thing in your heart that would cause you to have a false sense of security in anything other than God.  

Here are a few more scriptures to help you:

The human heart is most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:3

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6

“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.” Jeremiah 9:23

For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. Romans 12:16

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before the fall.” Proverbs 16:18

Father thank You for Your word, for it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  Thank You for dealing with the issues of our hearts.  Thank You for making us over and reprogramming our minds, in Jesus' name I pray, amen.