Overcoming Pride (and the road to Humility)

Okay, so I feel like I've gotten a little off track with this blog.  It is supposed to be, at it's core, about my ongoing voyage in coming to know the Lord, and the self-growth that results from submitting myself to His will.  I don't want to forget that!  Though I'll admit, it is SO much easier in theory than in application. ;)  So, to get back to the heart of this thing, I've had to step back for a couple of weeks and decipher where He wants me to lay my focus next.  In true fashion, He delivered in BIG ways.  He is flooding my heart with His calls and placing all the right people in my life to guide me through.

SO, let's talk about PRIDE.  And how I have far too much of it... AND what that means for me spiritually, AND how to begin ridding it from my life! (Brace yourselves, this feels like a long one)

Growing up, even at a very young age, I can remember feeling chastised for my stubborn pride.  It's another one of those things I don't really understand about myself just yet, as far as where it's rooted and such.  Most of my life I've just chalked it up to one of those family traits I wish I hadn't been saddled with.  I mean, it runs deep ... I get it honest.  BUT, that doesn't make it okay.  I've "owned" it for a long time, but the closer I grow to my Heavenly Father, the more I don't want to own it at all.  It's unbecoming.

What does the Bible say about pride, you ask?  I'm glad you're curious, too! Turns out, the Bible has several things to say about it.  (Proverbs is apparently the place to go!) Here are a few pieces of scripture that speak to me: 
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)
"The Lord detests all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." Proverbs 16:5 (NIV) 
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

Pride, for me, has been about pushing through life alone.  I am too prideful to admit when I need love, help, or attention.  I don't want to cost anyone anything.  I don't want to be a burden to those that I love.  This is one of those pesky lies I've come to believe about myself throughout my life. I accepted this particular lie as one of my truths over the last 10 years, as the result of being in a very unhealthy relationship.  I let him convince me that, not only was I a burden, but I was unworthy of anything my heart desired.  As if this wasn't bad enough, I let my pride trap me in that awful relationship.  I was too proud to admit I deserved better, too proud to walk away; to admit to my bad decisions, defeat, and failure.  I gave him far too much power over my heart and soul.  Somehow, pride distorted my perception of strength and I felt I could and should cope with the mental and emotional lashings.  I struggle greatly with vulnerability because of pride.  My pride doesn't allow me to be me very often.  Yes, even my shyness is pride.  I can't speak when I want to speak, I can't find the nerve to ask questions, for fear of rejection.  I experience my emotions behind closed doors and then shove it down deep in the recesses of my being.  I know better and yet, can't make myself do anything about it.  I am too prideful to forgive, and therefore, I'm cheated out of inner healing. Every major issue I battle is directly linked to my problems with pride.

Pride is a subtle sin that takes you over completely.  It manifests itself big and small, and unsuspecting... and then super glues itself to your insides.  It is incredibly difficult to resist or reverse, and is intensely destructive to one's spirit.  My pride is hindering me from fully obeying the Lord.  I want to be of service to Him, grow in grace, and help others in the ways He has called me to do.  Yet, my pride rears it's ugly head incessantly.  

So, how do we begin to overcome pride?  

Initially, I believe it begins in grounding yourself with an understanding of who we are in relation to God.  We are the created, not the creator.  In pridefulness, we tend to think we can do things on our own.  We forget that everything we have has been given to us by the Lord.  We disregard His perfect design for us in pursuit of our own selfish plans. We must remember that the opposite of pride is not shame or guilt, but humility.  We should humble ourselves before our Father, and learn to accept love and help from others.  Why?  Because these are God's blessings to us, and by accepting them, we are giving glory to God.  I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to be disrespectful of the gifts the Lord has given me.  Secondly, I think we have to learn to seek God's word for our struggles.  It should be the standard by which we live our lives.  By all means, absorb what you can from others, but always measure their words with God's word.  Lastly, turn to prayer. Prayer and pride tend to complicate one another.  People with a lot of pride don't always pray as fervently as they should, but there is no need to go this alone. Confess your sins and pray for forgiveness.  Pray for humility and discernment.  Pray for healing and restoration from the spiritual destruction pride has caused you.  Pray that Jesus will take your heart full of pride and replace it with a humble one.  For, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6  

I encourage you all to take inventory of the areas in your life that are controlled by pride.  You may be acquainted with of much of it offhand, but you'll be surprised to see how it seeps into every imaginable nook and cranny of your spirit and festers there.  The greatest power in taking stock of your pride is that once you are aware of its presence, you have no excuse to let it live there any longer! ;)  It is time to set foot on the road to humility so that we may receive God's grace and fulfill the lives he meant for each of us.  And don't forget to pray, pray, pray! :)