Compare and Contrast- Part 3
What are you going to do about the pride that you see?
Verse of the Day
‘The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.’
Today’s Devotional
Today is our last day of comparing pride with brokenness and humility. And I have a story to tell you, but I’ll wait until the end.
ATTITUDES ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Proud people keep others at arm’s length. Broken people are willing to take the risks of getting close to others and loving intimately.
Proud people are quick to blame others. Broken people accept personal responsibility and can acknowledge where they were wrong in a situation.
Proud people wait for others to come and ask forgiveness when there is a misunderstanding or a breach in a relationship. Broken people take the initiative to be reconciled–no matter how wrong the other party may have been.
Proud people are unapproachable or defensive when corrected. Broken people receive correction with a humble, open spirit.
Proud people find it difficult to discuss their spiritual needs with others. Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs.
Proud people try to control the people and the circumstances around them—they are prone to manipulate. Broken people trust in God –they rest in Him and are able to wait for Him to act on their behalf.
Proud people become bitter and resentful when they are wronged; they have emotional temper tantrums; they hold others hostage and are easily offended; they carry grudges and keep a record of others’ wrongs. Broken people give thanks in all things; they are quick to forgive those who wrong them.
ATTITUDES ABOUT SIN
Proud people want to be sure that no one finds out when they have sinned–their instinct is to cover up. Broken people aren’t overly concerned with who knows or who finds out about their sin—they are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose.
Proud people have a hard time saying, “I was wrong, will you please forgive me?’ Broken people are quick to admit their failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary.
Proud people tend to deal in generalities when confessing their sin to God (Dear Lord, please forgive me for all my sins…”) or expressing spiritual need to others. Broken people are able to acknowledge specifics when confessing their sin; “Lord, I agree with You that I love myself more than I love my mate; I confess that I am addicted to television; I’m a glutton; I have a critical spirit; I am an angry mother…”
Proud people are concerned about the consequences of their sin. They are disturbed over the problems caused by their sin—for example, the financial bondage created by their overspending, or the problems in their marriage that have resulted from selfishness and immoral choices. Broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin. They are more concerned about how their sin has grieved and dishonored God than about the problems it has created in their lives.
Proud people are remorseful over their sin—sorry that they got caught or found out. Broken people are truly repentant over their sin, and the evidence of their repentance is that they forsake the sin.
ATTITUDES ABOUT THEIR WALK WITH GOD
Proud people are blind to the true condition of their hearts. Broken people walk in the light and acknowledge the truth about their lives.
Proud people compare themselves to others and feel worthy of respect. Broken people compare themselves with the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for His mercy.
Proud people don’t think they need to repent of anything, Broken people realize that they need to maintain a continual heart attitude of repentance.
Proud people don’t think they need revival, but they are sure everyone else does. (In fact right about now, they are making a mental list of the people they think need to read this list!) Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.
If you are anything like me, you read this list and think, “Lord, help me. There is so much evidence of pride in my heart.” I want to be humble, but I don’t know how. I want to remove the pride from my heart, but I don’t know how. But here’s the good news: It’s God’s job to remove the pride. It’s my job to be willing to see it, and then embrace today’s verse: “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
Recently my husband and I were in a situation and with a phone call, the course of our day changed. And I was not happy. At all. I had a plan for our day and I was not happy that the plans were changing, even though I knew that the change was in other people’s best interests. In the middle of my internal tizzy… I could see the selfishness and pride. I wanted what I wanted. So I walked away and had a talk with God. “Look, I see it, ok? I know that I am being a selfish jerk right now. But I have no idea how to change it. I’m sorry I’m so selfish, but I don’t know how to not want what I want right now. So I’m asking for help. Please help me to handle this situation – which I do not like – with humility that honors You.” And guess what? God helped me to be kind, and gentle, and to be respectful of the change in our day. And while this was happening, I could tell it was God and not me. Thank you, God.
My prayer today is that God will continually show me the pride that I cannot see, and that He will give me the courage to ask for His help to act and speak in His humility.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
Where do you see evidence of (or growth in) brokenness? How do you see the kindness of God in growing you in humility and/or brokenness?
Where do you see evidence of pride?
Write a prayer of confession to God for the pride that you see.
Invite God to remove the pride from your heart. Ask Him what that means for you today.
Write a prayer of thanksgiving that God is willing to help you in becoming more like Him.