The Problem with Pride. . .


A compelling thought has been bouncing around my head for about a week or so. . . That anything and everything that damages my pride helps me to grow spiritually.  My pride is my worst enemy.  My pride kept me from worshipping God for the first 45 years of my life.  I was too proud to bend my knee. . . too proud to admit that there was a God superior to me in every way. . . too proud to admit that I was a sinful person who needed redemption.

In my pride I thought that the few little good things that I did somehow outweighed the many terrible things that I did. . . giving a bag-lady $20 somehow counterbalanced the lies I told. . . the other awful shameful things I did. . . 

Today I was listening to 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Insults. . . persecutions. . . other humbling troubles. . . 

As much as I try to be Christ-like, I continue to think too much of myself.  I have trouble forgiving when I'm insulted or disrespected or hurt by someone.  The only reason I need to forgive at all, is due to feeling the pain of my pride being bruised, which  if I were truly humble, would be of no pain at all.

I need to spend time meditating on these verses:

Philippians 2:3-5 NLT  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  4  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  5  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

James 4:6-7 NLT  And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  7  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Micah 6:6-8 NLT  What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves?  7  Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?  8  No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

1 Peter 5:6 NLT  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Colossians 3:12-13 NLT  Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  13  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Proverbs 22:4 NLT  True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Matthew 18:4 NLT  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Romans 12:14-18 NLT  Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.  15  Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.  16  Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!  17  Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  18  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Sometimes. . . much of the time I don't feel very Christ-like, but I continue to try. . . I continue to pray this prayer of David's. . . 

Psalms 51:10 KJV  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David. . . a man after God's own heart, prayed for God to create within him a clean heart. It wasn't something that David could do for himself.  I want to have the heart of God, therefore I pray the prayer that David prayed. . . 

Proverbs 24:16 KJV  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Seven times or seven hundred times. . .I stumble. . . I pick myself up. . . dust myself off . . . sorry God. . .and I try again. . . 

That's all we can do. . . keep trying no matter how many times we stumble. . . we must keep on trying. . . the only way we lose is if we give up. . . 

Thank You my God. . . 

I won't give up on You. . .

I won't give up on myself. . . 

❤

Dave See less

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