“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches; but let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 [AMP] -> me: The person who looks at their own achievements, boasts in their own wisdom, and marvels at their own strength and power are destined for a mindset that no longer sees God for Who He is. When I see the people in my life who have fallen away, I can say that this set of attributes regularly defines them. Just like the children of Israel, we can become blind and deaf to the Lord because of our own pride and self-worth. It is a viscous spiral that builds on itself if we allow these thoughts to take hold in our hearts. I must stay vigilant; a watchman over not only my own heart but by being the accountability partner my bothers and sisters need.