I Prayed have prayed
Father, show each of us the pride in our lives, and how we can seek humility instead!
Reading Time: 2 minutes

We have been hearing about pride and the need for humility in the body of Christ. We also heard about it regarding the pro-life movement this week as well.  I guess you could say it is a theme that has been leaping out from many places–yes, it’s God.  It is easy to spot pride in other people, but few of us–very few–can recognize pride in ourselves.  If we are interested in examining our own lives with the goal of cleansing ourselves from all unrighteousness, as 1 John 1:9 states, a good place to start is pride.

Here is a quick and easy test to detect if you might be guilty of pride. Ask yourselves these 7 Questions:

  1. Do I find fault with everyone around me, and often feel that nobody else can “get it right?”
  2. Do I regularly feel compelled to lead, direct or contribute when I am in a group, even if I am not in charge?
  3. Do I get defensive when others confront me about something? Do I feel defensive inside even if I don’t voice it?
  4. Do I think my ideas, my thoughts and/or my needs are so important that others should and need to hear them?
  5. Do I have difficulty admitting my own weaknesses? (Can I name 3 weaknesses of my own right now?)
  6. Do I rarely, if ever, admit fault?  When was the last time I said was sorry?
  7. Do I ever justify my situation when I measure it with Scripture?  Have I excused my sin because I have a “reason”?

If you answered yes to any of those, you are human—and you have pride that needs to be dealt with before God.

Now that you know that pride is a part of your life, what do you do about it?
Here are three steps to bring humility:

  1. SUBMIT. Acknowledge that God is the authority – not you.
  2. STUDY God’s Word.  Studying God’s word brings wisdom. Wisdom brings humility. Humility leads to more wisdom.  (Pride disrupts this process of gaining wisdom!)
  3. SERVE.  We have to live with other people in mind wherever we go, whatever we do.  Serving can help refocus our hearts and minds away from our own desires, wants and ideas and onto others.

God is pleased when we approach him in humility.  (Others in your life will appreciate it too.)  God wants to work with a heart that is soft before him.  How are you planning on replacing pride with humility? Share below!

(Adapted from a sermon at Cornerstone Church. Written by Kris Kubal)

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Janice Pruitt
January 26, 2020

Thank you for the Pride Test. God is working on pride and humility in my life. All the comments are such a blessing to help reveal areas of pride and how to become more Christ-like with his help.

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    Kris Kubal
    January 28, 2020

    I think everyone has a little something to work on in the area of pride!

Roy Harvey
January 26, 2020

Yes – much agreement with you all.
“The king of pride is Satan himself” – somewhere in the Prophets I think.
So he is to be avoided at all costs!
Talking of “Costs” – can any of us take anything of ourselves with us??
“Flesh and blood CANNOT and WILL NOT inherit The Kingdom of Heaven.”
It is so easily invaded by so many things and ideas “of the world”. Why did I ever give them room? The GOOD Lord says, “Be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” – A REALLY GOOD REMEDY for all that may ail us.
If we are FILLED – there is NO ROOM for ‘the enemy to play in’.
“No Room In The Inn” was quite significant.

2
Donna Wetzel
January 25, 2020

Father God thank you for this word. I confess my pride in the guise of humility. Help me father to focus on my own fault as I see the fault in others so easily. Help me to understand where others are coming from that I might join in not only their joy but also their pain..I thank you Father for your grace without it I could not stand. Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit with in me. Amen

11
Brenda Dormann
January 25, 2020

Your list stabbed me in the back. Having a dear husband of 58 yrs who has memory problems, I find myself correcting and directing him — to “help” him
LORD I repent and acknowledge that pride has crept in , in my know better attitude even flowing over in some of my dealings with others
I repent and accept the admonishen
Of Romans 12 that you have been speaking to me through. By your grace I want to be the loving helpmeet he needs, and a Prov 31 wife.
With the law of kindness in my moutth, help me JESUS , take over.
Please. AMENAMEN

13
    Jan Vickers
    January 25, 2020

    I totally get it. I read something today that spoke to me about this very thing. May GOD bless, guide, hard and direct you through all of this… as well as me.
    In Christ’s name

    6
Mike Guidera
January 25, 2020

Thank you Lord for this word. Help me stay balanced in my zeal for You. Help me to express all my prayers in love for others, even for those I disagree with. Forgive me withholding my love to others who disagree with me. Help me to see others as You see them. Lord, prompt me when my pride gets in the way so I may confess it to you.

10
Rochelle
January 25, 2020

I believe God was showing me last weekend an area where pride can trip me up.
When the computer or other “techie” equipment won’t function the way they are supposed to work, it has been easy for me to get quite upset.
Instead of falling for that, I can turn to God and quietly ask “How can I fix this? What should I do?” and then listen for His direction.
Anger and irritability are manifestations of pride saying “I shouldn’t have to put up with this.” If I look at Jesus’ life, there were a whole lot of things He shouldn’t have had to put up with, but He wasn’t irritable, He was kind and gentle.

14
    bettie ann
    January 25, 2020

    Rochelle, what you wrote sounds like you were writing about me, so i confess too, that while i didn’t SEE my “technical upsets and rants” as a form of pride, i DO see it now! thank you for making this clear to me. with Father God’s help, i will replace my rants with prayers and try to be more like Jesus. amen.

    7
Ken Budz
January 25, 2020

Lord thank You for forgiveness. Thank You that I can come to You and confess my sins. Lord please help me to truly repent of pride gluttony and laziness and all stubborn selfish sin. You are my God. Please help me to be Your son. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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    Caroline Eagan
    January 25, 2020

    Forgive me Lord Jesus. I pray for you Jesus to continually speak to me by your Holy Spirit and the Word. Scripture verses focusing on pride will be my next step, thank you for this revelation my dear Lord thru this message. Thank you Lord again.

    4
Barbara J Struble
January 25, 2020

Question: Is pride another word for “self”??

5
Myrna
January 25, 2020

Jesus said that He is “meek and lowly.”..when we are walking with Him, we are walking (living) daily in agreement with Who He is. When selfish pride is controlling then we are in agreement with the devil and his agenda against God and all who name the Name that is above all names, Jesus, Yeshua.

9
Kibby
January 25, 2020

Thank you Jesus that you died to defeat the deeds of the devil.

1Thessalonians 5:23-24 “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and HE will do it.”

Alleluia

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Patricia Asmussen
January 25, 2020

Father in Heaven Thank you for this day. Thanks for waking me up. Thank you for your long-suffering towards me. Thank you that you send people into our lives to speak the truth we do not want to hear. I surrender my pride to you. Your word says that it is you who make one man to honor and the other to dishonor. He me to see your hand working. Your word also says that it is you who make a reproach of us. Trials of the greatest proportion. Search me O Lord and cleanse me. Without you working in me I’m toast. Of my ownself I can do nothing. Don’t let me forget it. Thank you for working on the body of Christ in this area. Father, Abba, help us not deceive ourselves but to remember that the gifts are God are without repentance. We thank you for our spiritual gifts, help us to rid ourselves of anything that would stop you power from flowing through us. In Jesus’ name Amen

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Barry Phillips
January 25, 2020

The seven point test is very convicting and challenging. I recognize my pride and confess it as sin. Oh God above how easy it is to walk with out the burden of carrying my big ego and pride. I yield myself to you to show me every area of pride in my life. Thank you for taking this burden of always protecting myself and perceived reputation. I am now hidden in you with no longer bearing the burden of constantly elevating myself.

14
    Kathryn Grossman
    January 25, 2020

    My word for this year, which I already need reminded of, is “yield”, which you used here.

    9
    Mike Painter
    January 25, 2020

    Always be sure our conviction comes from the Holy Sprit as we need to learn from the false humility that came to Saul when he was appointed King and it eventually ended up costing his life.

    5
Kay Powell
January 25, 2020

Every year I have a particular scripture that I pray over myself for the year. This year as I sought God for what I should focus on this year, He spoke humility!! “Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Matthew 11:29
Thank you Lord for the confirmation!
Your test for pride was excellent! Thanks!

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Heather Darlene Bundy
January 25, 2020

Pride comes in many forms. I despise certain manifestation of pride yet I have my own form that I have to root out.

My pride stems from trauma and wanting to use it to excuse the areas in my life that do not appear to be successful.

Victim mentality is also pride because it is self focused and not God focused. I have carried around my dead past for too long. It’s time to bury the dead.

Why seek he the living among the dead? Cleanse yourself of dead works! Are a few things that come to mind when I think of the prideful, dead and maimed person I have carried on my shoulder for a few years now.

God I lay my past trauma in the grave of your grace and I forgive each and every person who traumatized me, hurt me and set me back. I bury that hurt with the old prideful and torn me. I place the dust off my feet on top of this grave along with all the sins that I committed that aided to my trauma or that I committed to hurt others whom I believe caused my trauma. I bury this dead, useless, bitter and prideful old body and declare that through Christ I am a new creature. On my head stone it reads “Jesus came to give me life and to give it to me more abundantly” and I, Heather Darlene, have been resurrected from the dead through the resurrection of Christ to live this new life, a new creation. In Jesus name, amen.

28
    Beth
    January 25, 2020

    Beautiful. I stand in agreement with you Heather🙏🏻

    10
      Chris Gecewicz
      January 25, 2020

      Pride is an ugly and debilitating sin..it keeps us from experiencing God’s best for us! My personal prayer is that the Holy Spirit will show me each time I am allowing pride to enter my situation and that I would walk I’m humility!

      12
    Kathryn Grossman
    January 25, 2020

    Wonderful freedom.

    5
    Mari
    January 25, 2020

    Your prayer made me weep! I am sorry that you were hurt so badly, but thank you so much for turning your pain into this wonderful prayer. Your writing has given me needful insight and understanding of the sufferings of a dear friend and will help me to pray for her. Thank you!

    5
    Bonnie
    January 25, 2020

    Amen!

    3
    E
    January 25, 2020

    I am just crying with the beautiful choice to become Christ-like. I am humbled by your prayer. E

    6

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