God is self-centered. He will not share His glory with anyone. He is fiercely protective of defending His name.

“I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” Isa. 42:8

I realized this yesterday as I was talking with friends after church. It seemed that every one of them had experienced some sort of defeat. At first, they were confident of their abilities and tried hard to succeed. But they fell flat on their faces to the point of despair. Only then, Jesus reached down and saved them. In each one’s mind, there was absolutely no doubt as to who was in charge. Without Him, we can truly do nothing!

God will level us, raze us, beat down on us, ignore us as long as we are thinking, “I can do this.” He is waiting for us to give up. Only then He comes through. Why? So that there would be no doubt as to who will get the glory. I told you God is self-centered and He will not share His glory with anyone!

But I need God to be self-centered (God-centered). Only then would I want God, the source of all joy, rather than what I find amusing in myself.

Praise God for the way He is and the way He does it!

PH