(6) Humility Is the Cure
From the Desire of Being Esteemed… Deliver Me, Jesus
Wait for it... this one’s gonna sting a little.
Here comes line one of the Litany of Humility:
“From the desire of being esteemed… deliver me, Jesus.”
Hahaha. Told ya. You hated it, didn’t you?
It’s okay—we all do.
We like being liked.
We want to be thought well of.
We hope someone sees us, applauds us, maybe even tags us in the photo and says, “You’re amazing.”
But that’s the thing:
This isn’t about being liked.
It’s about needing to be liked.
Craving esteem like a daily multivitamin.
And if we’re honest… most of us are popping those pills every day.
🚨 Red Flag Check: Is This You?
Let’s just call it out.
Here’s what the desire to be esteemed looks like in real life:
You repeat a good deed just loud enough to be overheard.
You serve… and then stew quietly when no one says thank you.
You slide into a story that paints you in a slightly shinier light.
You get twitchy when someone else gets credit for your work.
You feel overlooked and suddenly go colder… or louder.
We’ve all done it.
This isn’t about condemnation—it’s about awareness.
Pride is sneaky.
It doesn’t always puff up.
Sometimes it just whispers: “Hey, did they notice that?”
💡 Here’s the Catch
Wanting to be respected isn’t sinful.
Needing it to feel okay? That’s the trap.
Because once you start feeding on esteem, you’re not free anymore.
You’re performing.
Curating.
Overthinking every post, every outfit, every sentence.
And all of a sudden, your life becomes less about truth… and more about image.
That’s not abundance. That’s bondage.
🙏 Jesus Gets It
Let’s not forget—Jesus was the most misunderstood, misjudged, underestimated person who ever lived.
And He never once tried to manage His reputation.
He didn’t post disclaimers.
He didn’t clear up the rumors.
He didn’t rush to say, “Wait—that’s not what I meant.”
Why?
Because He didn’t crave esteem.
He was already secure in the love of the Father.
And He invites us into the same freedom.
🔥 If You’re Brave, Try This:
Want to live line one of the Litany today?
Pick one of these:
Give the credit away. Even if it was mostly you.
Let someone else shine. And don’t add “I helped.”
Stay silent on your win. Let God reward you in secret.
Notice when you crave the applause… and let it pass.
That’s it. Tiny shift. Big freedom.
💬 A Word About Real Repentance
If this line hits you hard, that’s not bad—it’s a signal.
A flashing light saying: “This desire is taking up space in your soul.”
So here’s what you do:
Bring it to Jesus.
Not with shame—but with honesty.
Say it like this:
“Jesus, I like being admired.
I want people to think well of me.
But I don’t want to be ruled by that craving.
Deliver me.
Free me.
Fill that space with something better—like Your love.”
And mean it.
❤️ Prayer of the Day
Jesus, I like the sound of applause.
I like being known, seen, and celebrated.
But if I’m honest? I need it too much.
So today, I ask You to break that craving.
Replace it with peace.
Help me love being hidden, unnoticed, and free.
From the desire of being esteemed…
Deliver me, Jesus.
Amen.
Tomorrow:
We tackle “From the desire of being loved…”
Oh yes—we’re going there.
Hungry for more?
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