FREEDOM IN CHRIST: HUMILITY AND PRIDE

Hello 👋 friends, pray you all are in good health and we are still discussing FREEDOM IN CHRIST.

NUMBER FIVE: HUMILITY AND PRIDE

We all know that pride kills faster than sickness because it destroys relationship between God and human. Pride will make you say, you don’t need God, or you can handle it yourself even when you know that you can absolutely achieve nothing on your own and the truth is, you desperately need God in all your endeavors. Depending on yourself or human being varies because some will definitely disappoint you while some will stand by you no matter what the circumstances might be but it’s very important to pray, so that God will send the satisfactory human that will help you to fulfill your Devine purpose. 

Remember men look outwardly while only God can see both inwardly and outwardly, so there won’t be mistakes or heartbreaks if you allow God to choose for you. Philippians 3:3 (it is we, not they, that have received the true circumcision, for we worship God by means of His Spirit and rejoice in our life in union with Christ Jesus. We do not put any trust in external ceremonies). 

The true definition of humility is to put our total confidence in the Lord our God. Ephesians 6:10 (finally build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power). Proverbs 3:3–7 (3, never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. 4, if you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you. 5, trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. 6, remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way. 7, never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong).

James 4:6–10 (6, but the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. 7, so then, submit yourself to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8, come near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! 9, be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! 10, humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up). 

CONFESSION: Lord Jesus, You have said that pride goes before destruction and an arrogant spirit before a fall. I confess that I have been thinking mainly of myself and not of others. I have not denied myself, picked up my cross daily and followed You. As a result, I have given ground to the devil in my life. I have sinned by believing I could be happy and successful on my own. I confess that I have placed my will before Yours and have centered my life around myself instead of You.

I repent of my pride and selfishness and pray that all ground gained in my members by the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ would be canceled. I choose to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance as I will do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind I will regard others as more important than myself. And I choose to make You, Lord, the most important of all in my life. Please show me now all the specific ways in which I have lived my life in pride. Enable me through love to serve others and in honor to prefer others. I ask all of this in the gentle and humble name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.

As you have made your commitment to God through the above prayer and trust God to show you the areas in which pride have ruled in your life. 

The listed examples below will help you in making the right declarations.

􏰀 Having a stronger desire to do your will than God’s will 􏰀 Leaning too much on your own understanding and experience rather than seeking God’s guidance through prayer and His Word 􏰀 Relying on your own strengths and abilities rather than depending on the power of the Holy Spirit 􏰀 Being more concerned about controlling others than in developing self-control 􏰀 Often being too busy doing “important” things to take time to do little things for others 􏰀 Having a tendency to think that you have no needs 􏰀 Finding it hard to admit when you’re wrong 􏰀 Being more concerned about pleasing people than pleasing God 􏰀 Being concerned about getting the credit you feel you deserve 􏰀 Thinking you are more humble, spiritual, religious, or devoted than others 􏰀 Being driven to obtain recognition by attaining degrees, titles or positions 􏰀 Often feeling that your needs are more important than another’s needs 􏰀 Considering yourself better than others because of your academic, artistic, or athletic abilities or accomplishments 􏰀 Other ways you have thought more of yourself.

Choose the above points which are true in your life and pray.

CONFESSION: Lord Jesus, I agree I have been proud in ______. Thank You for forgiving me for my pride. I choose to humble myself before You and others. I choose to place all my confidence in You and none in my flesh. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lucifer’s was the master of pride, and divisions are his main strategy because once he set people against each other, he conquers them but thanks be to God in Christ Jesus, we have received the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19 (our message was that God was making all human beings His friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and He has given us the message which tells  how He makes them His friends).

Ephesians 2:14–18 (14, for Christ Himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With His own body, He broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. 15, He abolished the Jewish law with its commandments and rules, in other to create out of the two races one new people in union with Himself, in this way making peace. 16, by His death on the Cross, Christ destroyed their  enmity; by means of the Cross He united both races into one body and brought them back to God.17, so Christ came and preached the good news to all—-to you Gentiles, who were far away from God and to the Jews who were near to Him. 18, it is through Christ that all of us Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit in the presence of the Father. 19, so then, you Gentiles, are not foreigners or strangers any longer, you are now citizens together with God’s people and members of the family of God. 20, you, too, are built upon the foundation laid by apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself). 

Most times we deny that there is prejudice or bigotry in our hearts, yet “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Remember it is only to God all creatures will render/give accounts and we know that everything is uncovered/laid bare before Him.

The below prayer will help you to ask God to shine His light upon your heart and reveal any areas of prideful prejudice.

CONFESSION: Lord Jesus, I know that You love all people equally and that You do not show favoritism but You accept men from every nation who fear You and do what is right. You do not judge people based on skin color, race, ethnic background, gender, denominational preference or any other worldly matter. I confess that I have too often prejudged others or regarded myself as superior because of these things. I have not always been a minister of reconciliation but have been a proud agent of division through my attitudes, words and deeds. I repent of all hateful bigotry and prideful prejudice and I ask You, Lord, to now reveal to my mind all the specific ways in which this form of pride has corrupted my heart and mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For each area of racial or ethnic prejudice, gender superiority or denominational bigotry that the Lord brings to mind, pray the following prayer aloud from your heart:

CONFESSION: Lord Jesus, I confess and renounce the prideful sin of prejudice against ____. I thank You for Your forgiveness, Lord, and ask now that You would change my heart and make me a loving agent of reconciliation with _______. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We appreciate your precious time in reading our post, please share to help others and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We will continue with FREEDOM IN CHRIST Number six in our next post, till then, remain Blessed.

Peace ☮️ out.