Pride and Humility

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

A study this morning on humility was just what I needed. Believe me, I have my moments of pride, but I try to stay in a humble attitude and think of others above myself. So this is not a Tressa is perfect and judging others post. This is a Tressa had a revelation on this subject post.

Lately, I have become so disgusted by the pride and arrogance of others. I just wanted to gag yesterday as I sat and litsened to someone build themselves up the entire time we were together. Note: I had to pray hard beforehand, because I knew I would be around this person. I didnt want to join in with all the elavating, but I want to celebrate this person in their accomplishments, but where do you draw the line?

Then this morning I came across James 4.

¹What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? ²You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. ³When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? ⁶But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Let me highlight a few things here:
~Pride makes its own agenda without any consideration of God and others.
~What is gained through pride is always lost.
~God opposes those filled with the pride of life for they are the friends of the devil.
~It is pride that makes us lust and covet and envy and murder and fight and war. Pride is to the life of the flesh what humility is to the life of the Spirit. It is at the very foundation of the lifestyle, which displeases God.
~Pride brings destruction.

Humility starts with the decision about who is in charge of our lives. GOD! God's enabling power is available to those who truly submit themselves to him. He gives GRACE and covering to those who call on Him and give Him glory.

My revelation is that God's power will be discovered in the lives of the proud, but it will only lead to their destruction. I can rest in knowing that God sees the heart of man, and He is the Judge. I can also have pity on the proud. Because after all big egos are like big shields for lots of empty space. The proud are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves for one reason or another.

I must remain humble, even when I want to join in (in times like yesterday) and point out all of my successes and accomplishments. I submitted myself and prayed before my time with this person, He gave me the ability to stay low. I saw pride for what it was and I even left our time together feeling renewed. God's power for living life well is given to those who humble themselves in His sight.