Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
Balloon Head.
By Deborah Shaffer
May 5th, 2026
“By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10
Frustration was growing. It seemed like such a simple concept, and the players were sure at the beginning that it would be an easy task. When the whistle blew, each team would run to a table, grab a balloon from a box, transport it to the opposite side of the gym, and place it on their designated line. Each team would continue this action until their balloons were lined up in perfect order on the straight line.
However, after a few balloons had been carried over, the teammates realized the impossibility of their assignment because as soon as one balloon was placed on the line next to another, they refused to stay near each other. Either because of the breeze of the running participants or the closeness of the balloons to each other, the goal was unachievable. One by one, the players gave up, and no one was named the winner. The wisdom of the leader was then shared with the youth: the only way this task could be completed would be to pop the balloon before placing it on the line. The lesson to be learned was one of humility.
Man without the Spirit of God is as an inflated balloon. Like the air inside it, pride fills the heart until it is fragile and ready to burst. Just as inflated balloons cannot lie in rest near one another, so is a man who thinks more of himself than he ought. A prideful person has an irritable spirit and causes friction with others…there is no peace.
There are many ways pride can puff up a man (or a woman). Talents (which are God-given gifts for which to be grateful) can be exalted in one’s mind. Then there’s the need for recognition instead of the desire to glorify God, or even the perfectionist who becomes angry when perfection cannot be achieved. There are many more. We live in a “Me Me Me” world. From the time we are born, we desire to have the attention and recognition of our peers. Left to ourselves, we never outgrow this condition, and it only grows more intense.
A Christian’s daily desire should be to become more like Jesus. What ultimate humility for God to take human form to provide salvation for mankind! Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and His enemies. If only we would strive to humble ourselves, we could have a peaceful and sweet disposition toward others—even our enemies.
Minister John Flavel wrote, “A Christian should know so much of his sin that it is impossible that anyone could lay him lower or have baser thought of him than he has of himself.” We should always be conscious of where God has brought us from so that our lives would only glorify Him and never bring attention to ourselves.
Oh, Christian! Won’t you allow God to prick your heart and let go of your pride as a needle in a balloon releases the air that causes it to not be at rest with one another? What peace will overflow in your life instead of the constant contention that is the fruit of pride.
Balloon Head.
By Deborah Shaffer
May 5th, 2026
“By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10
Frustration was growing. It seemed like such a simple concept, and the players were sure at the beginning that it would be an easy task. When the whistle blew, each team would run to a table, grab a balloon from a box, transport it to the opposite side of the gym, and place it on their designated line. Each team would continue this action until their balloons were lined up in perfect order on the straight line.
However, after a few balloons had been carried over, the teammates realized the impossibility of their assignment because as soon as one balloon was placed on the line next to another, they refused to stay near each other. Either because of the breeze of the running participants or the closeness of the balloons to each other, the goal was unachievable. One by one, the players gave up, and no one was named the winner. The wisdom of the leader was then shared with the youth: the only way this task could be completed would be to pop the balloon before placing it on the line. The lesson to be learned was one of humility.
Man without the Spirit of God is as an inflated balloon. Like the air inside it, pride fills the heart until it is fragile and ready to burst. Just as inflated balloons cannot lie in rest near one another, so is a man who thinks more of himself than he ought. A prideful person has an irritable spirit and causes friction with others…there is no peace.
There are many ways pride can puff up a man (or a woman). Talents (which are God-given gifts for which to be grateful) can be exalted in one’s mind. Then there’s the need for recognition instead of the desire to glorify God, or even the perfectionist who becomes angry when perfection cannot be achieved. There are many more. We live in a “Me Me Me” world. From the time we are born, we desire to have the attention and recognition of our peers. Left to ourselves, we never outgrow this condition, and it only grows more intense.
A Christian’s daily desire should be to become more like Jesus. What ultimate humility for God to take human form to provide salvation for mankind! Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and His enemies. If only we would strive to humble ourselves, we could have a peaceful and sweet disposition toward others—even our enemies.
Minister John Flavel wrote, “A Christian should know so much of his sin that it is impossible that anyone could lay him lower or have baser thought of him than he has of himself.” We should always be conscious of where God has brought us from so that our lives would only glorify Him and never bring attention to ourselves.
Oh, Christian! Won’t you allow God to prick your heart and let go of your pride as a needle in a balloon releases the air that causes it to not be at rest with one another? What peace will overflow in your life instead of the constant contention that is the fruit of pride.
Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
Balloon Head.
By Deborah Shaffer
May 5th, 2026
“By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10
Frustration was growing. It seemed like such a simple concept, and the players were sure at the beginning that it would be an easy task. When the whistle blew, each team would run to a table, grab a balloon from a box, transport it to the opposite side of the gym, and place it on their designated line. Each team would continue this action until their balloons were lined up in perfect order on the straight line.
However, after a few balloons had been carried over, the teammates realized the impossibility of their assignment because as soon as one balloon was placed on the line next to another, they refused to stay near each other. Either because of the breeze of the running participants or the closeness of the balloons to each other, the goal was unachievable. One by one, the players gave up, and no one was named the winner. The wisdom of the leader was then shared with the youth: the only way this task could be completed would be to pop the balloon before placing it on the line. The lesson to be learned was one of humility.
Man without the Spirit of God is as an inflated balloon. Like the air inside it, pride fills the heart until it is fragile and ready to burst. Just as inflated balloons cannot lie in rest near one another, so is a man who thinks more of himself than he ought. A prideful person has an irritable spirit and causes friction with others…there is no peace.
There are many ways pride can puff up a man (or a woman). Talents (which are God-given gifts for which to be grateful) can be exalted in one’s mind. Then there’s the need for recognition instead of the desire to glorify God, or even the perfectionist who becomes angry when perfection cannot be achieved. There are many more. We live in a “Me Me Me” world. From the time we are born, we desire to have the attention and recognition of our peers. Left to ourselves, we never outgrow this condition, and it only grows more intense.
A Christian’s daily desire should be to become more like Jesus. What ultimate humility for God to take human form to provide salvation for mankind! Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and His enemies. If only we would strive to humble ourselves, we could have a peaceful and sweet disposition toward others—even our enemies.
Minister John Flavel wrote, “A Christian should know so much of his sin that it is impossible that anyone could lay him lower or have baser thought of him than he has of himself.” We should always be conscious of where God has brought us from so that our lives would only glorify Him and never bring attention to ourselves.
Oh, Christian! Won’t you allow God to prick your heart and let go of your pride as a needle in a balloon releases the air that causes it to not be at rest with one another? What peace will overflow in your life instead of the constant contention that is the fruit of pride.
0 Comments
0 Shares
25 Views
Arabic
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek
हिन्दी