Jeremiah 9:23-26 (NIV)
23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,
It is not how much we know in this life about everything. It is not how strong we are in this life to perform, to look good, or be respected by men. It is not how much we have, or own, or are able to obtain, or even how many rich friends we have.
24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
It is about knowing God through all the Holy Spirit allows to come into our lives. It is about understanding His heart in all matters, and exercising His ways in all matters. It is about Him being our delight, about pleasing Him being our constant goal in life.
25 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh- 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the desert in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart."
This is the hour to let go and let God show us clearly all areas that need cut away from our lives that we will stand in the hour of great trial on the earth. Our sins are easily recognized, but the good that comes from our good self: (our self absorbed, self centered, lives that stays in charge of too many areas), is not easily recognized. The deception of self is darkness. The one who refuses to change is bound in pride and God will not come close to pride; He resists it. Critical to being a spiritual believer is submission to the deep work of the cross, surrendering to Holy Spirit as He trains us through the circumstances of life. The one who deceives himself becomes hard on the inside and the outside. He becomes obsessed. The term obsession means self-deception. And it is a matter of the heart, so many who are proud are obsessed. Having sin in our lives defiles us, but what we need to fear most is the darkness of having self-carnality in our lives but refusing to see it. This darkness eclipses the Spiritual revelations to know God in a close intimate relationship. This is darkness in the light and oh how great is that darkness. The solution is abandonment to Holy Spirit, a complete surrender to yield to the Christ in you, and real transparency before the mercy throne of God where Holy Spirit will give light and life and power. Don't wait until it is too late and you have not acquired the prize. Don't wait until the harvest is past and you are not ready. Don't wait until life passes you by and you have never really found real life. "Call on me the Lord says with honest heart and I will show you what you don't see. Humble yourself before me and I will reveal things to you, and I will discipline you to the peaceful fruit of righteousness. I will be your Father and you will be my Sons and Daughters. I will be your God and you will be my treasured people."