The story is told of a woodpecker who was pecking away at a pine tree when it was hit by lightning. It split from top to bottom. The woodpecker blinked, uncertain and hardly able to believe his eyes. He backed off, looked at the tree for a moment, then flew away. He came back later, leading nine other woodpeckers. With a great deal of swagger and pride, he pointed to the tree and said, ‘There it is, gentlemen, just like I told you!’

Now let’s get serious. As long as you remember to give God the credit for your success, He will keep using and blessing you. ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.’ (James 1:17 NKJV) That means every good thing you enjoy today, and every good thing you’ll need tomorrow, is a ‘gift’ from God.

Paul writes, ‘That no flesh should glory in His presence.’ There is no bragging in Heaven, just praise. Why? Because you can’t brag about how you got to Heaven; it is all by God’s grace. And you can’t brag about what you did for God before you got to Heaven, because it was all God’s calling.

He says, ‘I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.’ (Isaiah 42:8 NKJV) Again He says, ‘Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.’ (Isaiah 43:7 NKJV)

The Lord’s Prayer ends with the words ‘Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory.’ (Matthew 6:13 KJV) For how long? ‘For ever and ever, Amen.’