AM: X likes to take credit for the good she does.

Betty: That’s where her insecurity shows. It’s a good idea to pray for her to help her be able to see that and get out of the stuck place. That surrender is difficult. Because God can do so much more with us when we surrender.

AM: So, that’s part of her not surrendering?

Betty: She’s stealing God’s glory to herself. It’s not a good thing.

AM: “Lord, I repent for the ways that I do that. Lord, help me to embrace my call and find joy in it.” The problem is when I don’t get my sleep, because then I’m looking for something to pump me.

Betty: So, you’re saying by you giving your controller lee way, you make it rougher on yourself.

AM: I don’t mind an ordinary life. But when I’m depressed, it feels like it’s endless…

Betty: How about, “Lord, help us get into enjoying when you are receiving glory.” See, it has to move from our self absorption and wanting to glorify ourselves to really sincerely yearning for God’s glory.

AM: “Yes, Lord, I do pray that you receive the glory.”

Betty: ”And that I begin to receive my enjoyment in seeing you glorified.” People don’t have to be saying, “Oh, isn’t Annemarie wonderful and all that.” But it’s rather, “Oh, isn’t God gracious how He keeps bringing what we need.” You really find your joy in seeing people reach that stage. If you look at all the saints, they lived for His glory. That to me is a real grace when we lose that focused need to be recognized.

AM: People are blessed by your writing. It’s not my wisdom. It’s your wisdom. 

Betty: It’s God’s wisdom. I’m just listening and passing on what I’m hearing. So, when I hear people’s feedback, I rejoice that God is being recognized. You turn the glory to him. God seems to want a team concept on this. It can help all of us, so we don’t get self- absorbed. 

AM: I’m not going to get self absorbed, because I have to share my ugly side in the blog. It’s embarrassing. 

Betty: We all have an ugly side. I think you got the message and are working through it in the right direction. So, if you want to put it in a prayer, go into gratitude for God helping you to be able to get out of stuck places. Ask for more of His mercy that you can learn how to take charge of that part of you that gets pulled into arrogance, pride and so on. Thank the Lord for the opportunities He gives you to see that. That’s a grace. But you don’t want that part to become condemnatory. That’s not the Lord either. So, you have that happy balance of wisdom to see what’s going on, but yet love and care for yourself and others. It’s the balance. Because that false humility just gives Satan something to work on in throwing people into extremes.