"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
Proverbs 8:13
Pride is a troublemaker.
It silently slithers into our minds and blinds us to truth. Pride can weave lies in our minds before we're aware if we're not paying attention to our thoughts. And we can't hide pride because it bears fruit. Rotten fruit. Smelly fruit. Yep.
Pride is the enemy. It can lay eggs of anxiety, fear, jealousy, comparison, lies, unbelief, and fear of man, in our minds! But those rotten eggs can't hatch if we do what God tells us to do: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:5).
We've got to crush it. Kill it.
We've got to crush it. Kill it.
Pride is not from God. He warns us about it. "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' (1 Peter 5:5).
That is the exact verse God instantly brought to my mind several years ago while I was prayer walking in our neighborhood! The Holy Spirit had been convicting me that I was carrying around a very critical spirit and I knew that as a child of God I was so blessed in countless ways. I was puzzled why I was so negative and critical in my thoughts. So during my walking I was praying and asking God, frankly, "Father, what is it in me that is keeping me from having grace? Why am I so critical in my thinking instead of having gracious thoughts?"
And within seconds a verse popped in my head, "God gives grace to the humble." I laughed out loud on the sidewalk that day and stopped walking for a moment. "Wow, Lord. My problem is pride! I don't show grace to anyone because of pride!" At the time I didn't know where in the Bible the verse was, but when I got back home, I found it and also read the following:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up
in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith..."
1 Peter 5:5-9
And yes, I repented on the spot. God is amazing! He is awesome! I'm so grateful God has taught me this secret: always stop and ask Him to reveal the root of a persistent problem that is troubling me. God will tell me the truth about it, and I can be set free!
I encourage all who are reading this, if your heart is troubled, be brave and ask God to show you the root of the unrest. He is faithful and tenderhearted toward His children. He will give you a soft answer that can turn away the wrath that torments your heart.
So, the next time pride slithers up like a serpent, turn him into roadkill by turning to Jesus. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Romans 16:20)
Polly💖
Matthew 5:16