When I was in elementary school, I think maybe around 4th grade I took a softball to school one day. I’ve never been particularly athletic. Let’s face it, I’m not at all athletic! Anyways, I brought this softball to school this day for P.E. time. We had a game of softball. And I didn’t do very well. I got out, big surprise. Anyways I sat to the side pouting and mad because they are playing with my ball and here I am sitting out. Well I was right in the line of fire. Roneeka Brown came up to hit and she hit the ball right towards me. Well I wasn’t looking and that ball came right for me and whopped me right up side the head! (I know some of you are probably thinking that this explains alot and you might be right!) But did I cry? Absolutely not! I was not about to let them see me cry! Did it hurt? Yes, but my pride wouldn’t let me cry or let anyone see me feel any type of pain. I was just that stubborn!
You see, me being stubborn and prideful and pouting caused me a lot of unnecessary pain that day. And in my adult life I have found that there have been times that my stubbornness and pride have caused a lot more unnecessary pain. I am sure that we are all guilty of this at times.
I’ve been noticing this more and more lately. How pride seeps into our lives, even as Christians. But we are not called to live pridefully. We are called to walk humbly. It’s easy though isn’t it? Think about a time or times when pride has crept in. It usually happens before we even realize it. That is why it is so important to stay prayed up and rooted in the Word.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
When have you let your pride get in the way of your walk with the Lord? Sometimes it starts out as a little thing and then it grows into something bigger. And before you know it your pride has caused you to become someone you don’t even recognize. All while you are pretending to be the “good Christian” that you claim to be. Do I sound like I know what I’m talking about? Well that’s because I have been there as an adult Christian more times than I care to admit!
When I’m talking about pride , I’m not just talking about pride in the sense of bragging about how great you are at something. No, there are many different kinds of pride. You will not likely hear me bragging on myself. But it may be hard for me to apologize when I have done something wrong or said something I shouldn’t have said. That is a form of pride. Maybe you can relate. Or maybe you can relate to pride in the sense of not wanting to accept help when it is needed. There are others ways that pride can show up in our lives. The obvious one being self righteous and thinking we are better than others. We can also be prideful when it comes to our children. (I have been guilty of this one too!)
Let me start a new paragraph for that one! Not only do we as parents think that are children are the greatest thing since sliced cheese…. Sometimes that blinds us into thinking that our children can or will do no wrong. And friend, that is a dangerous and slippery slope let me tell you. We must also be careful not to put our children on a pedestal above the Lord in our lives (which is another subject that I have written about before and I am sure I will be writing about again). Moving on….
Pride takes so much away from us and can quickly tear us down. That is why we must be on guard every day. Talk to Him about our struggles and how to handle situations. Be willing to do what is right. Even if we have to swallow our pride. Every day we should be reading God’s Word and allowing Him to minister to our hearts and teach us. And every day, we must die to self.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
This is just something that has been on my heart for a few weeks now and I have finally taken the time to type out some thoughts. I pray this helps someone today and I will leave you with one more verse that I found.
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
Blessings,
~Cheryl
saltandlight 
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