Praise In The Night: Escaping The Trap Of Narcissism
Submitted by Pastor Art Greenlee
Bible Baptist Church – West Point, MS
July 14, 2025
Ps 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
When the night is long and quiet, our minds often wander. We replay failures, compare ourselves to others, and sometimes spiral into self-pity. In these moments, Psalm 8 becomes a powerful antidote to narcissism—our generation’s quiet epidemic.
Narcissism, at its core, is extreme self-focus. It’s not just arrogance or vanity. It’s a way of thinking that centers the world around “me.” In psychological terms, it includes grandiosity, entitlement, and a lack of empathy.
But spiritually, it is forgetting that God is God, and we are not.
Psalm 8 puts things in perspective. David looks up at the night sky and doesn’t feel more important—he feels awe. “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” (v.4). And yet, in God's grace, we are not only noticed—we are crowned with glory and honor (v.5).
This psalm begins and ends with the same line: “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (v.1, 9). That’s no accident. The cure for narcissism isn’t more self-love—it’s more God-focus. Worship re-centers the soul.
In verse 2, God uses the praise of children to silence enemies. Why? Because childlike praise is humble, honest, and full of wonder. When we praise God in the dark—not out of strength, but out of trust—we break the power of pride and entitlement.
The heavens are “the work of [God’s] fingers” (v.3). Look up. The moon and stars preach a sermon nightly that says, “It’s not about you—but you are loved.” That kind of humility doesn’t crush us. It crowns us.
So tonight, instead of lying awake rehearsing regrets or scrolling for validation, whisper a prayer of praise. Thank God for three simple things. Let the last thought on your mind not be yourself, but Him.
Prayer: Lord, in a world obsessed with self, help me lift my eyes to You. Break the cycle of pride and pity. Give me childlike wonder again. Let my nights be filled with praise, not pretense. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection— What do I usually dwell on at night—my problems or God’s goodness? How can I end each day with praise rather than self-focus?
