Daily Companion  | 12 August

THE ERROR OF HUBRIS

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. -Romans 12:3

One of the leading perils of overvaluing oneself is the development of hubris. Whereas arrogance is typically one's excessive pride regarding how they are superior to others, hubris is an exaggerated self-belief in one's talents and may have nothing to do with others. God's words set a clear and cautionary tone on the dangers of overrating oneself, and in today's devotional, we shall reflect on the potential pitfalls of hubris and share some practical tips to avoid them. 

Hubris strains relationships: Overrating oneself can put a tremendous strain on both personal and professional relationships. It stagnates personal growth. With hubris, there is a tendency to become complacent. Hubris clouds true judgment, blurs the vision of reality, and leads to poor decision-making. Hubris also makes one prone to incessant failures. When we overrate our abilities, we overestimate the effectiveness of our strategy, leading to failure.

However, there are practical biblical ways to avoid hubris. Firstly. keep a check on pride but balance confidence with humilit by acknowledging that there's always room for improvement. (2) Value others: Respect and value the contributions of others. (3) Practice empathy which strengthens your emotional bank account. (4) Be a good listener.  (5) Embrace continuous learning by seeking opportunities to improve your knowledge and skills. (6) Seek constructive feedback. Don’t shun or suppress criticisms but use them for self-improvement. (7) Seek multiple perspectives to help counteract any biases or prejudices you might have. (8) Maintain Openness. (9) Set attainable goals rather than extremely high goals based on overconfidence. And finally, (10) develop resilience which mitigates the impact of failure and aids in bouncing back.

Beloved, by following these practical tips aligned with today's scripture's spirit, you can avoid the pitfalls of hubris and lead a more balanced, satisfying, and spiritually attuned life.

Today’s Recite: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. - Philippians 3:13

Today’s Morning Prayer: My heavenly Father, I thank you for today's reflection. I ask that You'll remove hubris far from me. Give me your grace to humble without losing my confidence. Make me empathic, effective, efficient, resilient and ever-ready to learn in Jesus' name. Amen!  

Today’s Hymn: Higher Ground 

Today’s ReadMe:  Jeremiah 27 - 30