This SECRET Sin might be destroying your life... Pride
What causes pride?
Selfishness.
Wanting to control outcomes ourselves and not putting it into God's hand.
It is derived from our sinful nature that was inherited by Adam & Eve.
The inability to give the situation to God.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)
We seen pride start since the beginning in the garden with Adam & Eve.
The ability to be like God & know the things of God.
We may not be able to see it sometimes, which is why we have to constantly be checking our heart.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:13)
11 “I will punish the world for its evil,
And the wicked for their iniquity;
I will halt the arrogance of the proud,
And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. (Isaiah 13:11)
The Lord hates pride.
There's a difference between being proud of someone & having pride in yourself.
How to overcome pride?
Humility
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Humility Cures Worldliness 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7)
#1 God's will.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
#2 Prayer
You're either prayerful or prideful.
Prayer shows our humility towards going to the Lord when facing any situation in our life.
#3 Fasting
Fasting is another way of humility.
We want to do a fast that pleases God.
Isaiah 58 is a great way to read about fasting that pleases God.
You might be dealing with pride at times, & it takes humility to cure it.
Humble yourself before the Lord & He will be able to heal you through this.
In Jesus mighty name!