Hey there! Just wondering if you noticed me today. I have been attempting to get your attention in so many ways. You seem a little preoccupied—can I help?
I noticed you started early this morning with your mission of helping someone in need. I desperately wanted to get involved in that and I knocked repeatedly on your heart’s door, but you would not budge. I wanted you to tell people what you did for that individual. I wanted you to get noticed, and for much attention to come your way. I could have helped with that, you know—but you would not allow me to take charge.
I also noticed your struggle to forgive someone, and I watched as you made the decision to let it go. I could not believe you chose love over hate. Are you serious right now? Had you allowed me into that situation, your flesh would have R.I.S.E.N. U.P. and you would have stood your ground so mightily and powerfully that everyone would know better than to mess with you. Had you just allowed me to intervene, I would have talked you into putting that record of wrong in a beautiful handmade filing cabinet created by yours truly, while tucking it deep down in the crevices of your heart, and I would have made sure you recalled that offense every day. But, no, you chose to forgive?
Look—I have a job to do! I am ineffective if you do not allow my entrance into your life. I really need to be seen here, and so do you!
What is my name, you may ask? Oh, surely you know for you and I often fellowship together, but just feeling a little neglected as of late.
My name is Pride and my mission is one of total limelight, self-exultation, and well—you know—eventually destruction, but do not tell anybody that one. At one time, I was all in your bad self and everyone saw me through you. So what changed?
Reply: Dear Pride, you are persistent, daily whispering for me to let you into my life. You are both deceitful and destructive and a self-seeker of self-glory. Your mission goes against my Heavenly Father’s teaching, for only God receives glory! Therefore, I am refusing your entrance into my life and into my situations! For I have chosen to view you the way God does, and I have chosen to allow Him to deal with your persistent knocks as I surrender to His authority while humbling myself before Him!
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate” (Prov 8:13).
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Prov 16:18).
Life is about God and His glory! Our lives must be directed by God for His glory and for our own good. Offenses are not to be viewed through the eyes of you, pride—but instead, through the lens of God’s Word. Through the eyes of pride—we hate, we refuse to forgive, we hold those records of wrongs, and those relationships remain in ruins.
Through surrendering to Jesus—we love, we refuse to hold records of wrongs, we forgive, and we get to witness God’s redemption and His restoration in relationships. We let Him deal with those offenders, while we love them and pray for them.
Pride, I have always had to battle with you, but from this day forward, I am inviting Jesus into this battle. He will be in charge! He will reveal to me the battle plan through His Word—and as He gives me the strength and the courage—I will follow it. I want to humble myself before Him, and surrender to His authority—not to your lures of self-glory. The only power you have in a person’s life is when that person gives you power. So, Pride be gone!
Pride: Are you serious right now? Me: Yep! Sure am!!! Everything I am saying is based on God’s Word. Everything you say is based on the enemy’s lies. Yes, I am VERY SERIOUS right now!
Truth! When we align ourselves with God’s Word—we will experience victory over pride.
“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:6-8, 10).
Lie: Pride says to exalt ourselves and that humility is weakness.
Truth/Promise: God is opposed to the Proud—But gives grace to the humble.
God’s Instructions: (1) Submit to God (not pride). (2) Draw near to God (Promise—He will draw near to you). (3) Cleanse your hands. (4) Purify your hearts. (5) Humble yourselves in God’s presence (Promise—and He will exalt you).
Sincerely,
God’s child (who is more than a conqueror!)
When Pride whispers your name and knocks at your heart’s door—allow God to answer!!!!
