Thoughts on Pride

Pride is a belief in one's own abilities; this belief at times overrides a person's view of God and his recognition of the need for the grace of God. Pride has been called the sin which spawns all other sins.

Why you give in to it: Many times it’s because the world, TV and other media, and many well-meaning people tell you to "believe in yourself."

P.R.I.D.E.

P-Presenting or portraying myself as someone I’m not, Rom. 12:3, Jas. 1:8, Gal. 1:10, Eph. 4:15

Portraying myself as better than I really am indicates that I want others to believe I’m better so they will like or accept me. Portraying myself as worse than I am is also pride, in that I desire someone to say, “No, no, you’re better than that”—I am still driven by the desire for someone to like or accept me.

R-Ruling or controlling others, Mt. 11:16-17, I Kings 21

I can try to control others in an obvious way, by telling them what to do or condemning them in a condescending way when I think they’re wrong. Or I can control others by manipulating them subtly, making statements that will make them feel guilty so they will do things my way. This is pride because I put myself on the throne. I want to be in control.

I-It’s all about ME, Eph. 4:32, Phil. 2:4

When my attitude is that everything has to be my way, or about me, or I want people to feel sorry for me, I am at the height of selfishness. I come across to everyone as “It’s all about me; you don’t matter.”

D-Down on myself for sins God has already forgiven, Gal. 5:1, Eph. 2:1-10, Heb. 8:12, 10:17, Jer. 31:34, Rom. 8:1

When I continue to beat myself up for sins that God has already forgiven, it’s as if I’m saying, “God, the death of your Son wasn’t enough for me; I can do penance or pay for my own sin by beating myself up.” It’s pride because I’m putting my own efforts to atone for myself before GOD’S free offer of forgiveness!

E-Envying someone for something they have for which I’m unwilling to work, Pr. 24:27, Gal. 6:4

Envying something someone else has, yet being unwilling to work for it—or desiring everything to be handed to me on a silver platter, as it were, is also pride. Why? Because I think I am better and that God should reward me for being so good.

My Kitties Make Me Happy

I have a calico cat named Espresso. She is pictured here with my 12-year-old son Anthony. I call her my Caramel Espresso because her markings look like someone dropped caramel onto her dark chocolate body! My daughter Chrystal and I love to watch the kitties' antics on the back deck. We spent a lot of time this summer watching and playing with them. Chrystal's cat is an orange cat she named Taffy.

They are outdoor cats, and it just pulls at my heart when I see both of their faces in the little square window next to my front door. They look in as if to say, "Pleeeeease, pretty pleeeeease, let us in!" Of course they have a kitty garage, with a little dog house inside which has lots of straw to keep them warm, and they are used to the outdoors and the cold, even in Canada.

I can't help but wonder if I feel a teeny bit of how God feels when I come to Him in prayer with a request. He just loves it that I come talk to Him--that I bring Him my requests. How do I know? Scripture tells me so. Philippians 4:5-6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

God delights in the fact that I delight in Him! I get a little taste of the joy that I bring to Him, in the joy that I feel when my kitties seek my attention.

A Good Thought on Prayer

“The hunger of the Father’s heart is satisfied when He finds His offspring turning to Him and placing simple confidence in His unfailing promises… God’s great heart of love delights in giving… by this very giving He seeks to bring out the latent qualities of our hearts… Prayer… is no mere asking… granting, and receiving… It is love giving itself out… and receiving… worship and surrender. So love is at the root of prayer, and love gets its way. Not only does love wish to grant the gifts, but love wishes to hear the… loved one expressing the need.” –G. Granger Fleming