Fighting the enemy of your greatness: Pride and arrogance

Luke 14:11 “For whosoever EXALTETH himself shall be ABASED; and he that HUMBLETH himself shall be EXALTED.”

One of the most destructive forces in the life of any human being is the force of pride or arrogance. Pride is a state of exhibiting unbridled arrogance, snobbishness, pomposity, self-aggrandisement, empty boasting, conceit, smugness, self-importance, haughtiness, egotism, over confidence, etc. JESUS establishes for us, the law of ELEVATION AND DEMOTION. Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” No matter how highly placed an individual is, pride goes before a fall.

God could not allow LUCIFER to remain in His Presence because of his pride and arrogance. He was cast out of Heaven despite the anointing on him. The Super power king Nebuchadnezzar was banished into the bush for seven years to eat grass because of his pride and incontinence.

God detests a proud man from afar. Psalm 138:6 “Though the LORD be High, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.” Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s PRIDE SHALL BRING HIM LOW: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Psalm 12:3. God has a policy of bringing the proud and the arrogant man down. Proverbs 16:5 “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

God commands us never to boast about our wisdom, riches, wealth, influence or affluence. Jeremiah 9:23, “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.” The Bible says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5. But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” One of the reasons for the high rate of divorce in our society has been traced to pride and arrogance between couples.

Proverbs 28:25 “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife.” God says He will destroy the house of the proud. Proverbs 15:25 “The LORD WILL DESTROY THE HOUSE OF THE PROUD: but He will establish the border of the widow.” The only way to attract God’s grace in life is to remain humble continuously. The way up is down. The man on his knees in humility and prayer cannot crash. Whoever you are, remember that you were born naked into this world, everything you have now is a product of God’s grace and a gift from God.

There are many people who still have more things that you do not have. Somebody somewhere is still better than you. The man that is truly blessed by God is never proud or arrogant, he does not sit on the seat of the scornful. Humility is a great virtue, it will give you what your qualification, money or position cannot give to you.

PRAYER: Father God, I humble myself under Your Mighty Hand. I renounce pride and arrogance. I am who I am by the grace of God. I will carry myself with humility and dignity all the days of my life. I surrender my life to the Lordship of JESUS CHRIST. I will humble myself daily. I receive more of God’s grace through humility.