1. The flesh boasts.

2. The flesh is addicted to boasting.

3. All human beings are addicted to boasting, myself included.

4. Boasting and shame/self-accusation are two sides of the same coin.

5. The idols which shape my longings to boast, shape my shame and self-accusation.

6. The boasts which I base my identity on, become my relentless and merciless accuser.

7. To my fallen heart, I can only be a "god" or garbage.

8. In the Gospel, I am never a god and I am never garbage. I am always a jar of clay, redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus and His saving death alone - who will live loved by Him for all eternity.

9. When I accept the Gospel, I cease being Humpty Dumpty and God Himself makes me His ugly duckling.

10. As the Gospel grips me, the Holy Spirit frees me up to say, "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."