What is Pride?
A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
How to overcome Pride?
Confess your Pride to God point by point and ask for his forgiveness. Just as importantly, ask him to cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Don’t ask God to humble you-the scripture say to humble yourself (1 Peter 5:6).
In Psalm 131, we see the song of David for going up to the Temple.
Lord, I am not proud. I don’t pretend to be more important than others. I am not interested in doing great things or trying to reach impossible goals. But I am calm and quiet, like child content in its mother’s arms. Israel, trust in the Lord. Trust in him now and forever!
Luke 14, 7-11, tell us (Don’t Make Yourself Important)
“When someone invites you to a wedding, don’t sit in the most important seat. They may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, they will come to you and say, ‘Give this man your seat!’ Then you will have to move down to the last place and be embarrassed. “So when someone invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then they will come to you and say, ‘Friend, move up here to this better place!’ What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests. Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.”
Luke 18, 9-14 we study, (Being Right with God)
There were some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else. Jesus used this story to teach them: “One time there was a Pharisee* and a tax collector.* One day they both went to the Temple* to pray. The Pharisee stood alone, away from the tax collector. When the Pharisee prayed, he said, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not as bad as other People. I am not like men who steal, cheat, or commit adultery.* I thank you that I am better than this tax collector. I fast* twice a week, and I give a tenth of everything I get!’ “The tax collector stood alone too. But when he prayed, he would not even look up to heaven. He felt very humble before God. He said, ‘O God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!’ I tell you, when this man finished his prayer and went home, he was right with God. But the Pharisee, who felt that he was better than others, was not right with God. People who make themselves important will be made humble. But those who make themselves humble will be made important.”
In Luke 22, 24-27 (Be Like a Servant)
The apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the world rule over their people and those who have authority over others want to be called ‘the great providers for the people.’ But you must not be like that. The one with the most authority among you should act as if he is the least important. The one who leads should be like one who serves. Who is more important: the one serving or the one sitting at the table being served? Everyone thinks it’s the one being served, right? But I have been with you as the one who serves.
Romans 12, 14-16 teaches us
Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them. When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too. Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7)
Prayer is a posture of humility towards God. When pride is knocking at your door, answer it with prayer. Ask Him to humble you. Ask Him to search your heart and reveal where you have let pride take over, and ask that He would, through His power, help you destroy the grip of pride in your life.
