P is for Pride

One thing is for sure. God has a way of humbling those who won’t humble themselves. It’s a looonnnggg way down from the pedestal we sometimes so proudly stand on, isn’t it?

What? Me? I’m not prideful.

Oh, really?

Pride, in its destructive form, comes in a variety of disguises. It was pride that destroyed the peace of heaven. Satan thought himself equal to God and, therefore, above the rules. His arrogance and narcissistic mindset landed him a one-way ticket out of paradise. Pride is being in opposition to God’s authority in our lives. It’s when we think we know better. It’s when we place ourselves above His wisdom. It’s when we unseat and replace him on the throne of our hearts….with ourselves.

This sort of pride and haughty actions is one sin God will not forgive. Pride is the parent of a multitude of sins.

Pride causes broken relationships
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife. ~Prov. 28:25
How many times have we refused to apologize when in conflict with someone? How many times have we refused to acknowledge our part in the problems that plague our relationships. It’s always the other person’s fault, isn’t it? We defend our positions at all costs. And most of the time it does end at all costs. Instead of building bridges of love, we build walls of contempt through prideful, narcissistic arrogance.

Pride causes prayer-less attitudes.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
There can be no effective prayer without humility. Pride causes us to stop sincerely asking for guidance. If we’re proud, we have no need for God. We prefer our own solutions to problems. But, if we have problems in our personal lives, that really isn’t a ringing endorsement of our own judgement, is it?

Pride causes haughtiness
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall ~Prov. 16:18
Does this mean we should never acknowledge our accomplishments? Not at all. If that was the case, resumes would be very boring. No, this means we should stop having a higher impression of ourselves when comparing ourselves to others. When we’re prideful, we believe our accomplishments came solely by our own hand. And when that happens, sometimes God is quick to strip it all away to remind us who is really in charge.

But the most destructive disguise is when pride causes us to think we are experts in what’s best for our lives. Think about it…would you ever put an intern or novice in charge of an important project without any supervision? That’s what we do on a daily basis when we think we can make decisions and get through life just on our own. Lucifer was a beautiful creature living in God’s paradise. But all that changed when Lucifer looked in the mirror and said, “Yes! Look at me! I AM beautiful!” His heart was filled with self-glory and that was when he was knocked off that pedestal with one swift, heavenly blow.

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, “All right, then, have it your way.”
~C. S. Lewis

Linking up with ABC Wednesday