“Pride leads to disgrace…to conflict… Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall” (PV 11:2; 13:10; 16:18)

Pride is not easy to define. It means to be over-satisfied with your person, with your looks, position, gifts, success, possessions or knowledge. It means to be overly self-conscious. It is a sinful, distorted and wicked ‘happiness’ at the expense of all.

It is the most difficult sin to identify and to repent of. It is hidden behind other sins. Pride is the root, the master of all sins. Long ago, the devil, which was once called Lucifer, became proud and fell from his exalted position as a heavenly cherub.

It is said that the proud man is the last one to know that he is proud. Others see his pride but he still thinks himself as humble. Religious pride is the ugliest of all. It is only the Holy Spirit who is able to identify pride as sin behind other sins. True repentance and godly sorrow is necessary. But for these to be real, pride, sin has to be seen as it really is- an offence against God. For example, an adulterer may repent of sexual sins. But he has to go deeper and repent also of pride, which lead him to adultery. If not, his repentance is too superficial to produce fruit to God’s glory.

The following words describe pride in other ways: selfish happiness, selfish ambition, self-confidence and self –satisfaction. The danger of pride increases with visible success in life. Pride is very ugly.  It makes you look artificial and fake. Proud people create divisions among friends, they love to quarrel and oppress others. Soon people will reject you. But humility makes you look simple, real and friendly.

Pride manifest in boasting, self-pity, anxiety and doubt. It leads to disgrace and confusion. Proud men hide their fears and ignorance behind over confident looks. A proud man is always attacked by unexplained anxiety. Like a worm quietly eating at his stomach, anxiety is his constant companion. You shall know that you have been humbled when anxiety, the fear of the unknown has totally disappeared from your heart! Amen!

Why do you desire to go on the reckless, dangerous path of disgrace and destruction? Are you not tired of so many falls; of making so many unnecessary mistakes that draw you back in life? Come to Jesus! Pray to God! The Cross will do its work! Once the process the humiliation has been perfected, you shall have peace beyond understanding. Then you shall be safely ‘promoted’! Humble people make fast progress for God’s favor is with them.

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels” (St. Augustine)

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I humble myself for Christ sake!

In due time God shall lift me up!

I humble myself so that blessings and peace shall rest upon my family!

In Jesus name

Amen!