“Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth and faithfulness.”
— Psalm 115:1, NASB
You must fix this truth in your soul: the glory belongs to God. Not a portion, not a part—allof it. Anything good in your life, anything holy or helpful or wise, flows from the Spirit of the Living God. You bring the vessel, but He brings the oil. Every time you speak truth, walk in love, or minister to the broken, it is because El Shaddai has moved through you. Indeed, the glory belongs to God alone.
Do not be deceived by praise. The man who takes credit for the work of God builds on sand. Remember what Macarius of Optino once said when someone praised his spiritual counsel: “Only the mistakes are mine.” That was not self-pity. It was the spiritual sight of one who knew his own flesh and trusted only in the Spirit of God. Let that become your conviction. Always remember, the glory belongs to God and not to man.
The glory belongs to God—and Scripture gives us a clear picture of what happens when someone forgets this.
Look at Moses.
He was chosen, empowered, and sent. The sea split at his word. Water flowed from the rock. Manna fell when he prayed. But in a moment of anger and pride, he struck the rock and claimed the glory for himself. “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10, NASB). It seemed small—but in that moment, Moses acted as if the power was his. God still brought water for the people, but the consequence was severe: Moses would not enter the Promised Land. Why? Because he did not treat God as holy and did not give Him the glory (see Numbers 20:12). Even Moses had to learn that the glory belongs to God.
You must take this to heart. Even the most anointed among us can fall if we begin to believe the power comes from us. The glory belongs to God. You are the mouthpiece, not the message. You are the branch, not the vine. “For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you” (Matthew 10:20, NASB).
The Apostle Paul understood this. He said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6, NASB). Let this be your mindset too. When people are blessed by your words, when prayers are answered, when hearts are healed—fall on your knees. Don’t reach for praise. Reach for God. He alone is worthy. After all, the glory belongs to God.
Prayer
Abba Father, You are holy and worthy of all glory. Forgive me for the times I have touched what belongs to You. Guard me from pride. Keep me small in my own eyes, and great in Your presence. Teach me the lesson of Moses—to speak when You command, to act in obedience, and to always give You the glory. Let every work of my hands bring honor to Your name, not mine. The glory belongs to You, forever and ever. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
⸻