Oops, I did it again....
Oops. I did it again.
Pride.
I let it win. Again.
A few weeks ago, I allowed pride to get in the way of a relationship. I knew pride was coming. I could see it a mile and half away. However, I didn't care. I was willing to have one second of a "good" feeling with pride, instead of having to lower myself in humility.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
Pride never works in our favor. It beckons to protect us, to justify us, and to soothe our hurt feelings.
Oh, isn't that just like the enemy to tell us lies to lead us into sinful behavior? He makes it seem "reasonable". He makes it seem "right". He makes it seem like he has our best interest at heart.
Liar.
Satan did the same thing to Jesus. He tempted him in the desert. He waited for Jesus to be weak, hungry, and thirsty. Then, he pounced on Jesus.
Jesus didn't budge though. He stood strong and replaced Satan's temptations with Truth.
The enemy entices us with pride when we are weak as well. When we have been overlooked, hurt, forgotten, rejected, or taken advantage of.
Pride speaks to our deepest desires. To be known. To be noticed. To be right. To be worthy. To be admired.
Which is exactly why it is at the root of almost every bad decision we make.
If you are breathing, you have had a struggle with pride.
Pride isn't always what you think though....
Pride disguises itself in insecurity. I used to say, "there is NO way I could struggle with pride, I am way too insecure".
Wrong.
Insecurity is looking "inside" for our security. Insecurity is self-focused and self-aware to a fault.
We also mistake self-deprecation for humility. Another lie.
Self-deprecation is a focus on self. Self is the opposite of humility.
When we self-deprecate, we are begging for people to tell us otherwise.
The more others reassure us, the more reassurance we crave. Y'all know this is true!
We become needy for approval. So, we take on an "I am not worthy" approach, and we get the attention we are craving.
Humility is the opposite of self.
Our culture has a humility drought. It's a rare treasure in this world we live in.
Humility doesn't self-promote. Humility doesn't self-protect. Humility doesn't hide in insecurity.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Remember the story of King Saul? He had a pride problem. It became his ultimate downfall. He could not stand the fact that David was so loved and adored. It literally drove him to his death.
He was blinded by jealousy. Which, at the root of it, was his pride.
King Saul started off with God's favor. He eventually lost it due to his pride.
Why is it that we can see pride a MILE away in others, but we are the last to see it in ourselves?
As women, we can feel it swell up inside of us. When we are not included in an activity with our friends. When someone is chosen over us for a job or position. When our children make us look like HORRIBLE parents in a restaurant or grocery store. When our husband's don't notice our adorable outfit or that the floors are so clean you could eat off of them. When someone pulls out in front of us, or gets called to an "open lane" in the grocery store when you have been standing there for 20 minutes! How dare they!!
Pride swells up. We react. By anger, sadness, jealousy, bitterness, pulling away....
We think those things will soothe our hurt. IT DOESN"T.
God hates pride. Because it damages us. It takes us down roads that God did not plan for us to go down.
Your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 8:14
What would happen if we could stop pride as soon as we feel it welling up inside of us?
What if we stop and say, "No way! Pride, you will not win! I will not let you take over this time. I will choose to be humble. To turn the other cheek. To show grace. To show love. To give the benefit of the doubt until I draw my last breath."
Y'all, we have to daily, yes daily, ask God to show us any areas of pride in our lives. Pride likes to hide in dark places of our heart. Ask God to call it out into the light! Get that junk out of there!
"Lord, remove any and all pride from my life." Let this be the first prayer that leaves our lips each day.
I think about Jesus every time I think about humility. I see His face. He was the Son of God, and there was not an ounce of pride in Him. He washed feet. He served others. He took time for others. He prayed for others. Even in His death, He prayed that God would forgive them for what they were doing to Him.
The Lord has shown me four things to do when I feel pride coming.
Y'all, if we want to be lifted up, we must get down low. Really low.
Pride is our enemy.
Humility is our best friend.
cleaning out pride,
jill
Pride.
I let it win. Again.
A few weeks ago, I allowed pride to get in the way of a relationship. I knew pride was coming. I could see it a mile and half away. However, I didn't care. I was willing to have one second of a "good" feeling with pride, instead of having to lower myself in humility.
Pride never works in our favor. It beckons to protect us, to justify us, and to soothe our hurt feelings.
Oh, isn't that just like the enemy to tell us lies to lead us into sinful behavior? He makes it seem "reasonable". He makes it seem "right". He makes it seem like he has our best interest at heart.
Liar.
Satan did the same thing to Jesus. He tempted him in the desert. He waited for Jesus to be weak, hungry, and thirsty. Then, he pounced on Jesus.
Jesus didn't budge though. He stood strong and replaced Satan's temptations with Truth.
The enemy entices us with pride when we are weak as well. When we have been overlooked, hurt, forgotten, rejected, or taken advantage of.
Pride speaks to our deepest desires. To be known. To be noticed. To be right. To be worthy. To be admired.
Which is exactly why it is at the root of almost every bad decision we make.
If you are breathing, you have had a struggle with pride.
Pride isn't always what you think though....
Pride disguises itself in insecurity. I used to say, "there is NO way I could struggle with pride, I am way too insecure".
Wrong.
Insecurity is looking "inside" for our security. Insecurity is self-focused and self-aware to a fault.
We also mistake self-deprecation for humility. Another lie.
Self-deprecation is a focus on self. Self is the opposite of humility.
When we self-deprecate, we are begging for people to tell us otherwise.
The more others reassure us, the more reassurance we crave. Y'all know this is true!
We become needy for approval. So, we take on an "I am not worthy" approach, and we get the attention we are craving.
Humility is the opposite of self.
Our culture has a humility drought. It's a rare treasure in this world we live in.
Humility doesn't self-promote. Humility doesn't self-protect. Humility doesn't hide in insecurity.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Remember the story of King Saul? He had a pride problem. It became his ultimate downfall. He could not stand the fact that David was so loved and adored. It literally drove him to his death.
He was blinded by jealousy. Which, at the root of it, was his pride.
King Saul started off with God's favor. He eventually lost it due to his pride.
Why is it that we can see pride a MILE away in others, but we are the last to see it in ourselves?
As women, we can feel it swell up inside of us. When we are not included in an activity with our friends. When someone is chosen over us for a job or position. When our children make us look like HORRIBLE parents in a restaurant or grocery store. When our husband's don't notice our adorable outfit or that the floors are so clean you could eat off of them. When someone pulls out in front of us, or gets called to an "open lane" in the grocery store when you have been standing there for 20 minutes! How dare they!!
Pride swells up. We react. By anger, sadness, jealousy, bitterness, pulling away....
We think those things will soothe our hurt. IT DOESN"T.
God hates pride. Because it damages us. It takes us down roads that God did not plan for us to go down.
Your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 8:14
What would happen if we could stop pride as soon as we feel it welling up inside of us?
What if we stop and say, "No way! Pride, you will not win! I will not let you take over this time. I will choose to be humble. To turn the other cheek. To show grace. To show love. To give the benefit of the doubt until I draw my last breath."
Y'all, we have to daily, yes daily, ask God to show us any areas of pride in our lives. Pride likes to hide in dark places of our heart. Ask God to call it out into the light! Get that junk out of there!
"Lord, remove any and all pride from my life." Let this be the first prayer that leaves our lips each day.
I think about Jesus every time I think about humility. I see His face. He was the Son of God, and there was not an ounce of pride in Him. He washed feet. He served others. He took time for others. He prayed for others. Even in His death, He prayed that God would forgive them for what they were doing to Him.
The Lord has shown me four things to do when I feel pride coming.
- Repent immediately.
- Serve someone immediately.
- Sing another's praises immediately.
- Pray God's goodness and blessings over someone else [especially the one who has hurt me]immediately.
Y'all, if we want to be lifted up, we must get down low. Really low.
Pride is our enemy.
Humility is our best friend.
cleaning out pride,
jill
