The other day I was having a discussion with my husband regarding where we both thought was the ideal place to live and minister. Then a certain town that we are both familiar with was brought up. This shifted the conversation in a negative direction. I was convinced that this town would be one of the worst places to live and I wasn’t shy in voicing my opinions.

After the conversation ended and I was by myself, I started thinking about desires I have had in the past to sell everything, move my family to Haiti and minister to the people there. As I thought about it more, I began to feel convicted about the earlier conversation with my husband. I thought to myself, “How could I be willing to live in a poverty-stricken country like Haiti and refuse to live in, and love the people in a region of my own country?” I was dealing with a pride issue and it made me emotional when my eyes were opened to this major flaw.

I immediately repented and asked the Lord to change my heart. Then I had to tell my husband that I was wrong and why. Later on I happened to read about King Nebuchadnezzer and what happened to him because of pride, “But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.” Daniel 5:20 NIV

Pride can be a nasty issue with severe consequences. My prayer is that I become softened and compassionate, not hardened and arrogant. May I never be stripped of the blessings in my life. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart (a person who shows remorse) – These, O God, You will not despise.” NIV

Take a look at what I recently came across while reading Beth Moore’s book, Praying God’s Word;

“My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny…
because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment…
because “you deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge…
because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing…
because you’re too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness…
because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.
I cheat you of vision…
because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship…
because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love…
because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven…
because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory…
because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think
I’m always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…
If you stick with me
You’ll never know.”