Pride

There have been so many situations where I have rejected God because I know that what I’ve done was wrong. I know He's calling and wanting to show me what's going on with my life, but I simply turn away, in pride, because I don't want to be humiliated by what I've done. My pride keeps me from allowing myself to grow. It has me tied down because in my guilt and pride, I have no room to break free and have a clear conscience. Am I the only one who has ever felt this way?

Pride is something that the devil uses to keep us far from God. Where there is pride, God cannot work, thus the devil tries to keep us in this constant pride so we would stay as far from God as we possibly can. Pride makes us think that, among other things, we are worthy and that we don't need to pray over a certain issue because we're wise enough to handle it. Nothing could be farther from the truth, though. God is the only One that is worthy of everything and we really do need to pray over everything because without Him, we have no wisdom. Pride is what causes all these different reactions in us.

As I was reading in my devotional a few days ago, I ran across this verse. I had heard it before, but since I had been pondering the pride issue lately, it took a new meaning for me. The verse is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says,

"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Alright, so the setting of this is God speaking to Solomon, but still. "If my people...will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways..." So many things to follow there, but with so many rewards if we obey it!

The opposite of pride, is humbleness. Pride is extremely easy to attain, but humbleness is so very difficult to achieve. It takes daily practice of Luke 9:22 which says:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their
cross daily and follow me.”

We need to forget about ourselves and simply follow Christ. When we learn to do that, it’s easier to become humble.

Humble is defined as:
To make meek
-low in rank, importance and status
-not proud or arrogant

Being humble is tough! The greatest example of humbleness throughout history is Jesus Christ. He is the very definition of it! His life exemplified it. His coming to this earth and dying on the cross shows a huge about of humbleness. He had no pride whatsoever. We can all learn to let go of our pride. As I said earlier, pride keeps us from growing in Christ and since that isn’t what pleases God, He’s made a way for us to get rid of it, and that is by daily living for him.

Now, even if you begin letting go of your pride and practicing humbleness right now today, you won't be able to advance much if you haven't come before God and confessed the pride you have now. If God has been knocking at your heart and you’ve been avoiding and rejecting Him as I had been, I encourage you open the door and let him in. Ask Him to show you where you have pride and allow Him to refine you through what He shows you. It may or may not be easy to deal with, but either way, let Him in and allow Him to begin working. I can assure you, you'll feel liberation and peace and a renewed passion for Him because you're free! Now that He’s cleansed you and you feel peace, it’ll be so much easier and even fun to live for Him!

Can you think of any ways in which we can begin letting go of our pride and begin practicing humbleness?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Sophie :)