How to fight Pride

1:52 AM / Posted by Bhebhe Lacson /

James 4:4-10
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?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[b]

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.


"GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD" 1 Peter 5:5



We all tend to be proud. Having the kind of humility the Bible calls for and Christ exemplified is a demanding and awesome task. This is especially true if we find ourselves in the limelight.

An interviewer asked singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman (winner of three Dove awards and named Songwriter of the Year for 6 successive years)how he kept from becoming proud.

Here is Steven Curtis Chapman's response:"It is one of the most frightening things in the world because, the fact is, God opposes the proud. He becomes the enemy of the proud man." Chapman says that he wants God to "take (him) out of the game"before he ever sets himself in a position for the Lord to become his enemy.

Chapman continued, "You've got this paradox constantly perform and entertain. Those aren't bad and ugly words, because it is to entertain people so they say, "What a great guy Steven Curtis Chapman is,' or is it to ultimately point them to the Lord? That's what I want to use if for."

Everyone battles with prode. The more we can do, especially if it is in front of crowds of people, the more ways Satan has to tempt us to become proud.

And perhaps the best way to combat it is to use the same strategy Steven Curtis Cahapman uses, and he performs before thousands every year. It's to call the Holy Spirit to remind us = especially whenever we begin to get even a little arrogant - that God opposes the proud.

REFLECTION
*Do I have a battle with pride? Do I see myself as a little (or a lot) better than my fellow students? My parents? My freinds?
* In what area do I have my biggest struggle with pride? My intellegince? Grades? Appearance? Athletic ability?



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