Pride - Satan's Snare

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  Proverbs 18:18

Pride…..Have you ever wondered why it is easier to recognize pride in others than in ourselves?  The Holman Bible Dictionary defines pride as undue confidence in, and attention to, one’s own skills, accomplishments, possessions, or position.  We must come to a place in our lives where we are able recognize pride in our own hearts instead of recognizing it in others.  We can choose to do something about the pride which we have in our own lives.  Prayerfully examine your heart today and allow God to deal with any pride which may be there.  Pride is Satan’s snare.  It will destroy you and your relationships if left unchecked.  It will hinder you from developing lasting fruit for God’s eternal kingdom. 

A person who exhibits a prideful heart thinks that they are the ones in control.  They do not consider that God is sovereign and He is truly the one in total control of all things.  A person may not say this, but their actions scream it.  We need to always remember God’s hand in our situations and circumstances.  We must always give credit to who it truly belongs – God.  For us to walk in our unique calling that our LORD has preordained for our lives, we must eliminate all pride from our hearts.  We must remove self out of the way and allow God complete control of our lives.  We exhibit a prideful spirit when we think our way is the best way, rather than God’s way.  God has a purpose and a plan for us.  It is the best.  Choose today to not resist God’s leadership in your life.  Proverbs 16:5 tells us, The Lord detests all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this:  They will not go unpunished.  Search your heart today.  Allow God to reveal to you if you are harboring pride in your heart.  Deal with your own heart instead of attempting to examine the hearts of others.  Matthew 7:3-5 – Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 

God has placed in each of our lives a weakness intended to keep us humble.  Our weakness will lead us to depend on God’s strength.  2 Corinthians 12:9 – But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  Be careful to guard your humility.  Be vigilant, because pride will surface in our lives before we even become aware that it is there.  Many difficulties we encounter in life might possibility be a result of the pride we are harboring in our hearts.  Guard your heart friend. 

God reveals to us in His Word that the puffed up, proud heart will come to disgrace.  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom – Proverbs 11:2.  Remaining humble will lead to wisdom.  What do you desire, disgrace or a heart filled with wisdom?  God’s plans and ways may at times seem illogical to us.  His ways are not our ways, but His ways are best.  God reveals to us in His Word that when we think we have all the answers, we are not nearly as wise as we think we are.  Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for them – Proverbs 26:12. 

Evaluating ourselves by worldly standards and successes can cause us to have a prideful heart.  We must always remember that apart from Christ, we are incapable of any worthy service.  God continues to direct us in His Word to have a humble heart.  For by grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you – Romans 12:3.

Friend, I encourage you today to prayerfully search your heart and see if you are harboring pride.  Allow your Savior and LORD to help you remove all pride from your life and lead you toward exhibiting a humble heart.  Remember, pride is Satan’s snare and he is using it in an attempt to destroy you. 

Dear Heavenly Father…..thank you for your love for us.  Father, search our hearts and reveal any ounce of pride we may be harboring.  Lord, I pray we will always look to you for our power, strength, and contentment.  Help us to realize your grace is sufficient.  Help us always desire to be humble.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.