We have a proclivity to think of individuals and nations as our adversaries when they present a threat to our personal or national well being. But, I submit, that our greatest adversary is Satan and he makes his assaults from within not without. It is an inside covert operation.
Pride
Pride is presumptuous and self-satisfying. It is estimating ourselves too highly and exaggerating our abilities. We erect myriad illusions about who we are and what we are about. We take credit where credit does not belong and parade around as though we have earned it ourselves. It is our distorted way of playing God in our own little world.
We have all heard people boast of all the things they do not do. What they often omit is what it is they do do. We all do something. Some of us engage in the same acts of others but we do it in a more subtle or different way. We may not drink, but we overeat. We may not murder physically, but we murder spiritually. We may not abuse a child, but we abuse those of a different ethnic group. We may not curse, but we demean and degrade others. Our pride blinds us to our failings. We seem hell bent on making ourselves look good to ourselves and feel good about ourselves and think God is satisfied with us. Some of us have never truly prayed but merely stood in the presence of a god we have created, because we refuse to see ourselves for what we really are. Pride is based in a real desire to be God and to be worshipped.
What does Scripture have to say on the issue of pride?
A man's pride brings him low... (Proverbs 29:23a)
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee... (Obadiah 1:3)
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. (Zephaniah 2:10)
When pride cometh, then cometh shame... (Proverbs 11:2)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1Timothy 3:6)
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud... (Proverbs 18:12a)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)
Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)
What we so often fail to realize is that we need God to discipline us and draw us closer to Him that we might feel our status as creatures. God is the Creator and we are the creatures. We need God, He does not need us. As Robert Brown points out, We know we need God because even when we strive to be humble, to the extent that we are successful, we become aware of how humble we are, and, regardless of how hard we try, we are unable to avoid the thought that we are "good" because we are so humble. Surely God must be pleased by our humility.
Well, what has happened here? We have become proud of being humble. So then the question becomes does our recognition of this solve our problem? Of course the answer is no, because even when we are aware of this fact, we are in danger of being proud of the fact that we recognize that we were being proud of being humble. Thus, we cannot escape this evil of pride without God's intervention. It is only when we stand in His holy presence do we come to an understanding of who we are and who He is. Satan, God's most formidable enemy, will have us believing we are more than what we are. And, only God can defeat the enemy within: pride.
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.
You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.
Blessings to all!
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareCelebrities and common people all over the world are known... Read More
A year ago, a beautiful woman came to see me.... Read More
MOST PEOPLE NEVER REALLY CHANGESad, but true.Some people never even... Read More
I have almost died twice in my life. The first... Read More
Yesterday, a marketing guru asked me a question that left... Read More
Imagine yourself marooned on a vast deserted island. You have... Read More
The psalms of the Bible are a literary treasure chest... Read More
Every month I usually sit down and write an article... Read More
Each of us has far more potential to serve the... Read More
The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More
There is an prayer process in every religion and everyone... Read More
Do you ever feel that what you read in some... Read More
The Many Waters explores the universe and sifts through the... Read More
I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More
The second verse of Amy Grant's song, "Angels Watching Over... Read More
Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More
Though closely akin and sometimes used synonymously, John Rawls distinguish... Read More
David understood the aguish only those who have chosen to... Read More
Many may wonder what is God's will, or how do... Read More
Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 (NIV) We... Read More
The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More
In my work with clients who have physical illnesses there... Read More
The expression "Spiritual Enlightenment" has been used often in reference... Read More
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my... Read More
There's nothing new about "the new age" except the attitude... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..To find out how psychic you are, try answering the... Read More
Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More
Your guardian angel is your link to the divine. The... Read More
When I first heard Donnie McClurkin's song, "We Fall Down... Read More
I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More
What could be a scary thought for some? How bout'... Read More
Each time our children graduate from one stage to another... Read More
Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?"... Read More
... Read More
Did we just overlook the amount of love that God... Read More
Let me say that marketing can be a corrupting experience.... Read More
Christians all over the world will all be tempted in... Read More
It's human nature to point a finger when we think... Read More
I am not enlightened, and yet,... Read More
Most of us know that the universe - God's universe... Read More
How did an artist accidently learn healing visualizations and improve... Read More
One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being,... Read More
Once you become saved and born again, the Bible tells... Read More
Natural laws exist that serve to maintain order in the... Read More
What is the opportunity here? What is the benefit of... Read More
Just for a moment think of what is stopping you... Read More
Every workday, five days a week, I take the light... Read More
In a recent article entitled "Our Virtual Reality Reality" I... Read More
Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More
Spirituality |