“My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty, I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psa. 131:1-2)

One of the things the Lord hates (as captured in Proverbs 6:16-19) are “haughty eyes”. Having haughty eyes is a condition of a prideful person, a person that focuses on matters they perceive as “grand”, for the sake of feeling important.

A person with haughty eyes puts themselves on a pedestal, and looks down upon others. And worst of all, a person with haughty eyes even puts themselves above God. To have haughty eyes is to have a heart filled with the poison of pride and arrogance. No wonder this is one of the abominations that the Lord hates!

We must be careful to not be prideful. It’s very easy to compare ourselves to others, and feel like we are better than them in one way or another. We often will compare our material wealth, status or position, families, houses, cars, etc. to that of others, and the condition of haughty eyes will make us feel like we’re above them. Like the pharisees, this can even occur with our perceived spiritual position, biblical knowledge, or religious activity (ministries and work for the Kingdom).

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Mat. 5:5)

Rather, God wants us to have still and quiet souls that are humble and content, like a child that has been weaned off of their mother’s milk and is able to now trustingly walk alongside their mother on their own.

Lord, help us to trust and walk beside you, with stilled and fulfilled souls that focus on your goodness. Rid us of any pride or arrogance that may reside in or plague our hearts, that we would be able to see you clearly and follow you whole-heartedly. Thank you for your love and grace that upholds us each day as we are continuously sanctified and conformed to the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!

[From November 21, 2018]