morning discoveries about Pride

My morning scribbles and learning on Pride.

Pride wears many masks. Pride is not the opposite of low self-esteem. Pride is the opposite of humility. We can have a serious problem that masquerades as low self-esteem. We all struggle with pride issues either thinking too much or too little of ourselves.

Humility in the New Testament comes from a root meaning “to lower oneself or to be brought low.” Scripture gives us specific guidance to visualize the idea. (ex. Isaiah 6:5)

When we see God as He is, we automatically see ourselves as we are. We fall on our faces before His greatness. Low self-esteem is a different matter completely. Low self-esteem means I see myself as low- not because God is great, but because I have so little value.

Don’t miss the paradox. When I recognize the greatness of God, I fall on my face before Him, but I also see myself in a new light. Because I am the loved creation of so great a Maker, I cannot help but be a person of great worth. Low self-esteem has nothing to do with real humility. Pride is self-absorption, whether we’re absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. Humility on the other hand, is God-focused not self-focused.

We must learn to constantly be on the lookout for pride. We can safely say that if we’re not deliberately taking measures to combat pride, it’s probably doing something to combat humility. Pride is a monumental boulder in the path toward breaking free.

No matter what stronghold you are seeking to demolish, I suggest praying scripture about pride every day. We will never waste our time when we pray about our tendency toward pride and seek to humble ourselves before God.

These are some thoughts God gave me (Beth Moore) in the subject of pride several years ago.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment…

because you “deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge… because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing… because you’re to full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness…

because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.

I cheat you of vision…

because you’d rather look in a mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship...

because nobody’s gonna know the real you.

I cheat you of love…

because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…

because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory…

because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.

Untrue.

I’m looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…

Stick with me, and

You’ll never know.

Isaiah 6:5, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

(Isaiah standing in the presence of the Lord was brought low because of God’s greatness. But then responded to God with a whole new attitude; one only concerned with God’s glory.)

Because I am the loved creation of so great a Maker, I cannot help but be a person of great worth!

My prayer and hope is to be humbled by God, to be changed by His glory, to fight constantly against pride and strive to be one esteemed by Him- Isaiah 66:2.