When Christ-followers have a proud, angry heart with unresolved conflict, we are opening doors for satan to come in and influence us. He knows unforgiveness is prideful … and pride is a human trait difficult to subdue. Whoever the problem is with … a friend, spouse, parent, co-worker … the root of every disagreement is pride, not the other person. Don’t blame God, point the finger at satan, where it belongs! Ask Jesus to help, to give you strength and strong character; to humble you so that you’re able to forgive and seek reconciliation.
Pride begins with our thoughts. Satan throws fiery darts that come uninvited, but we can control which thoughts and memories we allow to linger in our minds and imaginations. Through God’s grace we can have victory over the battle, but it is a daily battle. As we grow in grace and humility, we become more concerned with our Master than ourselves … we become smaller and He becomes bigger in our lives … and we come to realize we can forgive because we are forgiven!
Ephesians 4:26-27 – “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.” Proverbs 13:10 - “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” 2Corinthians 10:5 - “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” John 3:30 - “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Song Lyrics: There's a businessman, there's a widowed wife, there's a smiling face with a shattered life. There's a teenage girl with a choice to make. It's crowded here in church today, and the preacher says, as the sermon ends, “Please close your eyes and bow your heads. Is there anyone in need of prayer? Jesus wants to meet you here. 'Cause we all fall short; we all have sinned, but when you let God's Grace break in... It's beautiful! Come as you are, surrender your heart, broken and beautiful." Well, he'd never been to church before but he came today as a last resort. His world was crashing in and he was suffocating in his sin. But tears ran down as hope rushed in! He closed his eyes, raised his hands, worshiping the God Who can bring him back to life again! ‘Cause there's nothing more beautiful to God than when his sons and daughters come. Alleluia! Surrender your heart, broken and beautiful!
Subduing our pride can be difficult, but if we allow Jesus to take our brokenness, He will turn it into something beautiful!
Artist: Mark Schultz
Writers: M.West, M.Schultz
