Boasting - in the Lord

In 2nd Corinthians chapter 10, we see a passage of Scripture that can help us to reflect on the importance of acknowledging God and His hand in our lives:
14For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;15not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,16to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.17But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

I think if we were less apt to take credit for ourselves and our personal accomplishments and give glory to God, it will help to refine our focus and display a Christ-honoring humility.  We would have an attitude and appearance less of self-centeredness and more of God-centeredness.  That sort of humility can serve us well and enable us to effectively radiate His character in and through our lives.  Our willingness to boast in the Lord, to give glory to God will help shape an attitude of reliance on the power of the indwelling Christ, which is reflected in the way that others see us.

Galatians 6:14 can help to shape our attitude as we seek to humble ourselves before the Lord and allow the presence of Christ to be expressed through us:
14But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Rich Froning was crowned "Fittest Man on Earth" by the popular CrossFit exercise program for the third year in a row recently. It was an attitude shift in 2010 that has propelled him to the success he's experienced. According to ChristianityToday.com, he related to The Blaze in a lengthy interview that, "In 2010, I put CrossFit on a pedestal and then, when I failed at it and got second, it was hard for me.... I had to reevaluate and I came to the conclusion that Christ is the reason for everything and that's what i need to be living for.

He says, "For me, that's really how it is. It doesn't matter what I've done...When I retire or when I walk away from competing from CrossFit, I won't have it anymore [but] Christ will always be there."

After the disappointment of 2010, he placed a reminder in the form of a tattoo referencing Galatians 6:14: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

This marks the realignment of his priorities around his Christian faith. He also wrote verses of Jesus' crucifixion on his shoes for motivation. His faith has been described as, "refreshingly upfront" rather than "preachy or boastful".

This is illustrative of the power of the expression of God's truth applied to our lives.   Froning needed some perspective, and he rearranged His priorities and even used a phrase from Scripture to cement that attitude adjustment.   And, a passage about not boasting in ourselves, but in the Lord can keep us humble.

You may not have a theme Scripture, but it is helpful to keep Scriptural verses, even thoughts and phrases in our consciousness.  And, in the Old Testament, we see that there were physical reminders that were used in order to help maintain focus.   Deuteronomy 6 says that: 

6"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
God's words to us bring life and truth.   We can be inspired by verses of Scripture or by words that have tremendous meaning.   As we personalize Scripture, we gain inner strength and a greater sense of God's presence and priniciples.   We are encouraged to renew our minds, and allowing His Word to shape our thinking can be incredibly helpful as we face the challenges of each day by relying on God and His truth.