“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2
If we are all honest, we would admit that we struggle with the issue of pride in one way or another. I remember in college sitting with one of my Bible professors, Dr. Ken Neller, and asking him if I would get over my struggle with pride. Fast forward 15 years and I am still wondering the same thing.
As I have walked through Beth Moore’s book Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free from Spriritual Strongholds, I have learned so much about pride. One thing that she points out is that we don’t have to have a high opinion of ourselves to be prideful.
Pride is not the opposite of low self-esteem. Pride is the opposite of humility. We can have a serious pride problem that masquerades as low self-esteem. Pride is self-absorption whether we’re absorbed with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are. ~ Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word pg. 58
We can have an over-inflated or under-inflated opinion of ourselves which both result in self-focus. I have learned that the way to overcome pride is to shift from the focus on self to a focus on the Almighty. We must seek out our true identity in Christ as children of the King, redeemed, forgiven, worthy…because of who He is. This means a shift from worship of self to a worship of the True and Living God!
This week Gretchen and I further discussed the issue of pride in our Women Living in Faith podcast and provide some practical ways to overcome this stronghold. Click on the icon below to listen.
Blessings,
Jen
