Everyone say: "Pride goeth before a fall", but that's NOT what the Bible says! I heard it again yesterday. And wouldn't you know, my reading, now, is in Proverbs; that very chapter.
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV
Another one of those verses the devil has twisted. You see, he is pride. He refused to bow his knee to God and doesn't want you to either!
I thought I'd take a closer look at a word we don't use much anymore.
haugh·ty
ˈhôdē/
adjective
- arrogantly superior and disdainful."a look of haughty disdain"
synonyms: proud, arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior, self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing;
"La-di-da", "hoity-toity", "vain", "stuck-up"; wow, how many times have we labeled someone we've seen with those descriptions? Yet, we would be crushed to think someone thought that of us!
I know! I was very shy growing up and in later years, was told by someone - they had thought I was stuck-up. It blew me away! Nothing could have been further from the truth; I had, all my life, such a spirit of rejection on me; of which (through the ministry of forgiveness and repentance) I have just been set free, this year.
It's not how we see ourselves, or how others see us, however; being "full of oneself" is how God would see us if we are not full of His Son! And the only way to be full of Jesus is to empty ourself of self!
“that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,”
Ephesians 4:22 NKJV
“I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
I Corinthians 15:31 NKJV
Pride does not want to do this! Pride wants recognition; he lusts for approval. Pride wants his way. Pride is rebellion against God! Pride refuses to humble himself.
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.””
James 4:6 NKJV
“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”. II Timothy 3:2 NKJV
“backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,”
Romans 1:30 NKJV
Nothing good comes from pride!
"Pride goes before destruction"!
We must repent of our pride!
We must humble ourselves!
Humility is not weakness! In fact it is actually the opposite! Humbling yourself takes great restraint, when your flesh rears its ugly head! It's a daily battle, of which victory is possible with the help of The Holy Spirit and the desire to obey God's commandments. However, if your desire is for things of this world, it will be of little or no consideration.
Once again, it comes down to the heart!
Examine yours today and repent!
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NKJV
Let this be our prayer today and everyday - not just words we read!
Let it be the desire of your heart; then move pride aside and let God do His will in you!
Even so - MARANATHA!
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