Do We Elevate Pride?

The lamp that guides the wicked — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart — is sin

Proverbs 21:4

I certainly understand the hurtful power of pride, both to the proud and to those who are the recipients of prideful behaviour. I count it as miraculous how Yahweh, our Beloved Abba, allowed me to experience the pride which I harboured within my spirit and my second-mind, the subconscious. When I repented of my sinful behaviour, including pride, those many years ago, I was able to actually ‘feel’ the sting of pride, whenever I displayed this behaviour. Let me share with you, this was not a comfortable feeling and one, which over the years, has allowed me to become aware of the raising of pride within me. Will it ever leave? My prayer is that it will but my fear remains that I have a human nature and human nature is, naturally, prideful. My inner work is to be aware of the elevating of pride within me and to suppress it when I become aware.

This realization encouraged me to explore the dynamics of elevating pride within oneself. The discoveries were revelatory.

Discovery 1: Pride is ego-based. This should not be a surprise to anyone, with an ounce of understanding of human nature. Human beings are born ego-bound. In infants this seeks to ensure survival. However, in adults, ego-binding leads to such sins as arrogance, lying, promiscuity, etc. The mother of all these is pride. The opposite of pride, of course, is humility; to become humble one must ‘die to self’, a concept which may only be found in Scripture and is often considered as foolishness by non-believers. Rav Sha’ul speaks to this, in Galatians 5:24,25 – Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires.  Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.

Discovery 2: Pride is harboured in an insecure mind. Maturity is able to sustain error and humility; the insecure, immature mind is not. Rav Sha’ul makes reference to this, when he writes, in Ephesian 4:14,15 – We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah.

Discovery 3: True believe cannot reside in the same heart as pride. When we invite the Holy Spirit of the Living God into our hearts, we must be prepared for transformation. James, the brother of Adonai Yeshua, writes about this in his 4^th Chapter, verses 3,4, refers to Proverbs 3:34 – But the grace he gives is greater, which is why it says, “God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace.”

CONSIDER:  Beloved, my experiences are not your experiences and we do not all share the same revelations. Although our journeys will be different, the Love and Grace we are given by Almighty Yahweh is the highest gift we can receive from our Beloved Abba. Are you seeking this gift-of-gifts?

ACTION:  I urge you to step forward and share with our Beloved Abba, your desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God, Who will lead you forward in transforming your mind and heart.

PRAY: My prayer is for you: if you have not received His Grace and you are seeking, may the Holy Spirit of the Living God fill lead you towards this gift of gifts, speedily. Beloved Abba, Father, I pray for your guidance, as I step forward to receive your Grace. Guide me, I pray, towards repentance and towards humility and Love.  In Your precious Name I pray

May the God of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless you richly.