KILL PRIDE!

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

PROVERBS 16:18-19 -Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

PROVERBS 29:23  A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor

 Pride is at the root of all sin. God hates pride in any shape, form or fashion. He even hates a prideful or haughty look.  In the Believers life pride is a serious matter and a formidable foe. One that you can’t fight, trying to lay it aside or hide it. You have to kill it. And, it has an amazing ability to resurrect and disguise itself. Its the houseguest who will not leave. Its always hanging out and around somewhere in your life. Few recognize its presence because it rarely shouts (we’ll see it then). It merely whispers “I am not here.”

 What is pride you ask? PRIDE IS FAITH IN YOUR SELF.  Pride is belief in your own ability to think, say, do whatsoever you will to do.  Pride is being arrogant: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance in overbearing manner arrogance: a feeling of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims; inordinate self-esteem; conceit. Pride dresses beautifully but acts ugly. Pride thinks it’s better than anyone else.  Pride is very, very busy because it has to do everything itself, on its own because no one else can do things as well as pride can.  Pride is critical of others, judging the speck in their eye while dismissing or excusing the log in its own eye and making sure any fault or short-coming another may manifest is simply not possible, could never happen to them.  It doesn’t submit to authority, won’t listen to a word someone else says because after all, what do they know and how could they be right when Pride is never, ever wrong? All is someone else’s fault with Pride; it’s never the blame or cause for anything…its THEIR FAULT. Pride is just hard. Never tender. Nothing is precious to Pride. Nothing is sacred. Nothing is safe.

Pride lies and hides. Throws rocks and hides its hands. You will never see it to kill it. Hidden pride must be revealed by God Himself. He is quite capable of doing it in advance of having to humble you if you will ask Him for this. You must pray Psalm 139:24-“Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”  The path of everlasting life is parallel opposite to the prideful path. It is narrow and at times hard and full of suffering (Matthew 7:14-But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it).  To kill pride, ADMIT YOU HAVE IT (and you do). Refuse to believe in yourself over believing in GOD IN YOU. Trust Him, His word and His way as best. Pray about pride in your life often. Submit to God. Obey Him. That’s the only way to kill the insidious and ruinous enemy of Pride. Beloved, I am praying with you and for you.

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