Pride and Surrender

 
The definition of pride: a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with who one is closely associated with, or from qualities or possession that are widely admired. A second definition reads pride is a consciousness of one’s own dignity.
 
I feel it is important to acknowledge that we all have some level of pride. Whether we take pride in our self-worth and social status or in our feelings of entitlement and emotions, pride takes place in each of our lives in some form.

There’s pride, then there’s… well, pride.

There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates and the kind of pride we can feel about a job well done or the kind of pride we express over the accomplishments of loved ones. The kind of pride that can stem from self-righteous conceit is sin. God hates this because it becomes an interference – a barrier – from seeking and having a right relationship with Him.
 
Check out what the scripture says…

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Galatians 6:4  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

2 Corinthians 7:4  I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. I all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

It is easy to become so consumed with ourselves and then, our thoughts drift far from God.

Psalm 10:4 says that In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Provers 16;18-19 tells us that the consequences of pride are destructions and that it is better to be lowly (humble) in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Pride can easily keep us from taking that next step Jesus is calling us to.

That call could be to a relationship with him, to admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior and that we can’t do life on our own. Because when we put our faith in ourselves and our fellow man, we let pride sneak in. Pride tells us we can do it all on our own. As the Bible mentions, this is a path to destruction and comes before a hard fall.

Today, I want to challenge you to take a moment to reflect on your own life. Talk to the Lord about areas in your life that you need to surrender to Him. Let’s lay down our pride. The first step is confessing our sin (pride) and asking Him to transform our hearts and minds. The next step is to continue to pray and talk to Him, read and study his word and finally, get plugged into a church and have fellowship with like-minded believers.

Let’s lay it all down and surrender our pride. Make this song your prayer today.
 

Author:
Worship leader

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