PRIDE

This was a day of awakening in my life. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I have been operating in pride for sometime. This was a new revelation to me, but I have learned that when the Spirit points a problem out in my life to judge myself quickly. As I took stock in my attitude, I saw exactly what the Spirit meant. He had given me times and locations to which I had been in sin.

There was a time I looked up to people. Then, I took classes, read books and began to think I could do better than others. No one was doing anything right. I could do it better than them. I don’t know when this first began, it may have started about five years ago. I thought at the time I was more qualified to teach a small group than the founder. Resentment began to build when I was not chosen to lead while one of the leaders was absent. I had ask three time to lead and was turned down each time. Since the leader was longer in the Lord than I, he probably saw my immaturity and could not trust me.

At the same time my body began to arch with stiffness in my shoulders and legs. My first thought was arthritis or some other age related problem. Praying and speaking to the mountain proved to be ineffective. The discomfort continued for years without relief. I am not saying this was a direct result of a prideful heart. However, the symptoms began soon after that incident.

Proverbs 16:18, “Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall. ”

The thought never entered my mind, thinking I was so much better than others was the sin of pride. I had been blinded in my mind, not seeing my true self. Another by-product of pride is the inability to pray for others with confidence. A proud person makes himself/herself the center of their world, with no room for others. Self exaltation, removes God from the throne of our life. Without God in control of our lives, self is left in complete charge.

Thank God for Jesus Christ.

I had prayed the day before this revelation, to surrender my whole being to the Lord, for whatever he had in my life. He answered that prayer, except not in the way I had expected. His point was very precise to me. Son, I can’t use you as long as you are on the throne of your life, there is no room for Me! All I could say was, Holy Spirit you are exactly right that is me. That was the turning point of my life as I remembered the times pride had brought disaster to me.

Proverbs 29:23, “A person’s pride will humiliate him, but a humble spirit gains honor.”

Repentance was the very next words that came from my mouth. Also, asking the Lord to keep a guard over my mouth never again allowing pride to raise myself above others.

My Brother’s and Sister’s, take an inward look at yourself to see if pride has entered you heart. If so, repent immediately and ask the Lord to keep the sin of pride from your life. Pride will keep us from moving forward in God’s plan for our life. All that can be seen is self, not others, not God.

Zep 2:10  This is what they will get for their sinful pride, because they insulted the people who belong to the LORD of Armies and made themselves greater than them. 

 They will not prosper, their ambitions will not come to pass, others will have their places of position. Ultimately they will perish in that sin.

Zep. 2:9

1 Corinthians 4:7  Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren’t a gift? 

Above are a couple of scriptures as a reminder to honor others above ourselves. Don’t forget this is the Exalted One, the Lord God Almighty.

Be blessed in your walk with Jesus.

Al S.