Pride’s Folly

I sat down to write today.

Pride showed up, got in my way.

I’d written fifty lines before I saw the telling signs, pride had left behind.

Destruction at every turn,

Clever words that pointed back to me, of all the nerve!!

I must have dozed off,

It can be the only explanation,

Why Pride got in my house on this one and only occasion.

 

I was confronted by God recently. It was frustrating. Whether I turned to the right or to the left, I felt like I was bumping into His presence, not in a good way, but in a provoking kind of way.

It took some time, but as I forced myself to quiet down before Him and look at all the tell-tale signs that He clearly was allowing me, I realised that God was surrounding me like an opposing army.

Why was the Lord opposing me? I know a scripture that answers that question It  is repeated twice in the New Testament, James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. It was all I needed to see. Pride is an ugly monster that is hard to identify in the human soul. God in His mercy takes pity on us in that He must expose pride, shine His great light on it, and let it be seen for what it is.

Didn’t I just pray the other day, “Lord, deliver me from the evil one?” Wow, I wasn’t’ expecting such a deep and revealing answer! Pride is a snare to every follower of Jesus. Just ask James and Peter.

I am thanking God for His incredible kindness to me in His word today that has led me to repentance. It is what I needed, but not necessarily what I wanted; the fingerprints of a loving Father! I was blind and could not see until He sent forth His word into my heart.

‘The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account’ (Hebrews 4:12-13).