Pride Redeemed: Boasting in the Lord
"Boasting in the Lord—confidence not in self, but in the One who works through us."
Reflections on E. Stanley Jones' "In Christ"
Pride is often condemned as an enemy of humility, something to be uprooted entirely. But E. Stanley Jones challenges us to consider whether pride can be redeemed. When pride is rooted in an unsurrendered self, it is self-centered and destructive. But when pride is surrendered to Christ, it is transformed into something life-giving—a deep gratitude that boasts in the Lord rather than in self.
Paul declared in Romans 15:17, "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God." His confidence was not in personal achievement but in what Christ accomplished through him. There is a pride that does not exalt self but exalts the One who works through us. This is the kind of boasting that keeps us from false humility, which, at its root, is often just another form of self-absorption. When our self-worth and confidence are grounded in Christ, our “pride” becomes an expression of thankfulness, a recognition that all good things come from Him.
Rather than rejecting pride altogether, we must allow it to be replanted in Christ, drawing its sustenance from His humility. As we live in Him, our confidence is no longer fragile or self-protective. Instead, it is a confidence in His sufficiency, freeing us to live boldly, yet humbly, in gratitude and worship.
Personalized Journal Entry – The Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
My child, do not shrink back in false humility, thinking that you must deny every good thing I do through you. You are My workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. It is not boasting to acknowledge what I accomplish through you—it is gratitude.
I have made you a vessel of My grace, not to diminish you, but to glorify Myself through you. When you abide in Me, you will bear much fruit, but apart from Me, you can do nothing. This is why I call you to boast—not in yourself, but in Me. Let your confidence rest in My power at work within you, for I am able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you ask or think, according to the power that is at work in you.
Be strong and courageous, not because of your own ability, but because I am with you. I uphold you with My righteous right hand. When you step forward in faith, know that I am the One who equips you. There is no place for fear, for I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Do not mistake surrender for passivity. I have called you to live boldly, to walk in the authority I have given you, and to proclaim My goodness. When you boast, let it be in the Lord. Let gratitude be the song of your heart, for I am the One who works in you, both to will and to do for My good pleasure.
(Scripture references: Ephesians 2:10, John 15:5, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 3:20, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:31)
Prayer of Confidence in Christ
Father, I rejoice in the work You are doing through me. You are the source of every good thing, and my confidence is in You alone. Thank You for making me a vessel of Your grace, for calling me to live boldly in Christ. I reject the false humility that denies Your work in me, and I embrace the gratitude that boasts in You. Let my life be a testimony of Your goodness, a reflection of Your power at work in me. You are my strength, my sufficiency, and my confidence. In You, I live, move, and have my being. Amen.
Unsplash Image Suggestion
Image Intent: A sunrise over a mountain peak, symbolizing confidence and boldness in Christ.