This week I heard a very wise woman say that a Christian who is walking closely with the Lord will know the areas of her life that the Lord is working on. She also said it’s normally only one or two areas that will be obvious to the believer. For as long as I remember, my greatest struggle has been pride. I have to learn again and again and again and remind myself and let the Word of God remind me and let the preaching I listen to remind me that I do not have the right to a proud heart. I, as a Christian, am required to be humble.

I struggle to admit when I’m wrong: that’s pride. I struggle to allow myself to be taught: that’s pride. I find myself bitter or offended: that’s pride. Pride is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary (and Google) as “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements.” Pride is grounded upon its middle letter: “I.” I am… I like… I want… I need…. In our modern America, the great focus is on what makes each of us unique, quirky, weird, or different. It’s common to hear young women tease and joke about how “it’s all about me,” but you can hear the tinge of truth hiding in that comment. Whenever we focus on ourselves instead of on our God, we end up in pride.

What does God think about pride?

Proverbs 16:5 tells us, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” is found in 1 Peter 5:5. God hates pride. I mean He really HATES pride. And as a Christian, I think I should avoid the things that my Saviour hates.

What does pride look like in my life?

It’s not necessarily me saying out loud “I’m better than the other people in my life.” It’s not necessarily acting snobby or rude either. Sometimes, it’s an unwillingness to bend to God’s will. When I act this way in pride, I find myself thinking more about what I want, what my dreams are, what my goals are in life and I rarely find myself thinking about what God wants, what God’s dreams for me are, what God’s goals for me in life are.

Sometimes, it’s choosing to not read my Bible or pray consistently. By refusing Him my time and effort as well as refusing to make Him my number 1 priority, I’m telling God by my actions that I think  more of myself than I do of Him. I lift my heart up with pride in this way.

Sometimes, pride makes me easily offended or bossy. If I have to be in control and cannot allow someone else to be in charge of my decisions, then I am ruled by pride and not by humility. In the verse from 1 Peter above, God talks about submission. Submission is willingly placing myself below the rule of another person. Submission is the opposite of pride because it requires willing humility to submit. If I’m angered or upset by things that get said to me about me often, then I am easily offended. By choosing to be offended and not allowing the Holy Spirit to control my emotions, I am self-focused instead of God-focused. Psalms 119:165 states, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” When I am focused on the Word of God, I will not be offended by [anything] according to God.

How do I avoid pride?

1. Know God’s place. “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” By seeking ways to learn more about Him and what He wants, we find ourselves lowering our own position in our eyes and raising His position in our hearts. By placing God and His Words of wisdom first, we’re able to find humility. A healthy view of God and his correct placement in our priorities and values develops a less-proud-more-humble attitude.
2. Get God’s help. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Only with humility given by God are we able to stand without pride in our hearts. One of the most humbling things you can do is admit that you can’t do something on your own and ask for help. God wants to help you live without pride! Pride is ugly in all its forms and He wants very badly to create you into something beautiful for His glory. Jesus put it this way: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” We know that God gives grace to the humble: by coming before Him, we’re able to ask for the help to stay humble instead of proud before Him.
3. Know God’s Word. Psalms 119:2-3 says, “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” Can you imagine if the president announced that we were going to war with North Korea, but we weren’t going to fight the dictator with guns or bombs and instead would approach him in battle using butter knives? Yeah, I’d think he was crazy, too! You don’t bring a butter knife to battle against someone with nuclear weapons and you would never approach a spiritual battle without the Word of God. If you’re struggling with pride (self-focus), your greatest weapon will be to study God’s Word and allow It to change your spirit. Memorize verses that talk about humility and pride; do a Bible study on the awesome power of God. Whenever you feel a proud moment coming, you can combat it with verses from the Bible! Whether they’re memorized or you’re looking them up in your Bible or even Googling them on your phone, God’s verses from the Bible will help you stop the pride before it gets too far and brings on other sins.

Pride has always been my biggest struggle: I fight it every day. But I know that Christ has given me the victory over even this sin and I’m able to win the battle through His power. I pray that if you’re struggling with pride today, that you would recognize it as what it really is: sin. I pray that if you’re struggling with pride that God would help strengthen your resolve through the Holy Spirit to renew the humility you need in your life. Today, my fellow pride-strugglers, I pray for you.

Love, Meghan