Pride. I suspect that no stronghold is easier for us to spot in someone else, yet oh-so-difficult to recognize when staring back at us in the mirror.  When it comes to the strongholds that Beth addresses in Praying God’s Word, this one is of epic proportions. Ironically, at the core pride is the human heart craving independence from God—our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer.

Pride entered the scene of human history right on the heels of its close friend, unbelief. While it was Eve’s unbelief in the goodness of God that led her into sin, Satan used pride as the incentive when tempting her with the lie, “You will be like God.” Just think how delicious that must have sounded … to be like God. Exalted. Independent. Worshipped. . With that kind of enticement Eve grabbed the forbidden fruit faster than you can say fig leaf.

And we’ve all been following in her footsteps ever since.

My journey with Jesus has been one of day-by-day, year-by-year, tearing down the stronghold of pride.  My first step of faith required a death to my prideful independence, also known as “rebellion.” Then to accept by faith the work of Jesus on the cross required I renounce all prideful attempts to earn righteousness by my own merit. Frankly, trusting Jesus required an end to trusting in self. 

Then, as I began to grow in faith, Jesus asked me to trust Him and called me to a new level of surrender to His will. At this point a different stronghold of pride surfaced named “entitlement.”  Entitlement demanded of God a life mapped out according to my plan and my agenda. Through the crushing of this pride I discovered the glorious life of surrender.  

Thankfully, there is a cure for the cancerous pride that seeks to destroy each of us and keep us in isolated independence…this cure is called humility. I heard it said once, “Humility is the right sizing of myself that comes with just one eyeful of His Majesty.”  I know this to be true. Praying God’s Word effectively destroys the stronghold of pride because through studying, reading and praying Scripture, God is revealed, exalted and magnified in our hearts and minds.  When we see Him clearly for who He is…then we see ourselves for who we really are—creatures dependent upon our Creator. Just think… the only reason we have breath in our bodies is because the Lord wills it…that fact alone is extremely humbling.

Today, when pride tempts me to make much of myself or live life on my terms, I run back to the Word and remind myself of the greatness of my God and my complete and total dependence upon Him.