Comments on: Purging Pride

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:42:18 +0000

Hi Ruth — isn’t it a complete peace and tremendous hope that we are His workmanship. What an awesome God.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:57:06 +0000

Hi Rachel, your post and Nathan’s comment both describe one of my many struggles. Pride is certainly a weakness of mine that I’ve always dealt with, but I think it’s really only been this year that the Spirit has revealed to me how much this sin permeated my life and way of thinking. Several experiences and the Spirit’s work in my life have been teaching me what it means to be humble. I know I still have a very long way to go, but I trust “that He which hath begun a good work in [me] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

It gives me such great joy to know that we are His workmanship and that what we cannot do, He does for us for the glory of His Holy Name.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:36:25 +0000

Nathan, what great thoughts you shared filled with encouragment and grace. Thank you.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:33:45 +0000

Marianne – what a great point that pride serves as a bandage, though not a good one – I find that true in my own life. Thanks for the further insight.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:49:17 +0000

Rachel;

Your post has such a familiar ring to it. You have stated it so well.
I have spent years wrestling with pride over whether or not I did the right thing about this, or that. Now, I know that I must distrust my pride, but sadly it is something I often come to grips with after the fact.

It is one of the coolest things about fellowship with Jesus is that He supports us as we are making progress. When we stumble He picks us up, when we are moving forward, He is there encouraging us, confirming our direction. While it’s possible, even probable that progress in Spiritual things will draw criticism and contempt from the world, He is with us every step of the way. Such things help to separate us from our dependence on the approval of others, and cement us to His gracious love for us. These are the things which teach us to depend solely on Him, the true foundation.

Therefore it is a wonderful thing that He is shaking us up and bringing us down to humility, because without Him and what He is doing, we would never step away from our old buddy pride. We would never have the courage to walk away from such a source of (false) comfort. Without His guidance and healing we would be content to live in the fool’s paradise of self-righteousness and never have a clue that there was another way, a better way.
But, yes indeed, there is a better way, as you have illustrated, thank God and praise Him, there is.

Nathan

By: Marianne Lordi

Marianne Lordi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:38:55 +0000

Hi Rachel, good thoughts here. Pride can also be a bandage that we use to cover over our hurt so that we don’t have to deal with it now. I know at times when I get hurt by someone, I just turn away from them and put my thoughts somewhere else so I don’t have to think about what was done against me. That never works because the pain then never leaves!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:14:57 +0000

Joe – never really thought about how we do that in conversations – interesting isn’t it . . . thanks for your comments!

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:52:17 +0000

I was listening to a sermon from D.A. Carson a while back and he gave a good example of how prideful and self-centered we are. When we have a conversation with someone that doesn’t go so well, what do we do ? We replay the conversation in our mind and then change the ending so that we come out looking great or the “winner” – we never replay it in such a way that we can better hear the other person’s point of view. Amazing but sadly true, at least in my case anyway.

“I’m thankful for my eyes being opened to the state of my soul because only then can we truly be set free.” – great quote Rachel – and it’s only when we get closer to God’s light that we see our state for what it really is. Pride is the only plant that seems to grow best in complete darkness…

Blessings to you