God’s creation was perfect, peaceful and harmonious – until one of His angelic creatures became overly confident in himself and consequently gets thrown out of heaven. Once a beautiful, musical and wise angel, this creature thought himself to be better than God and even his fellow angels, causing him to desire God’s very throne, position and power for himself and through this angelic, pride came into existence (See Isaiah 14:12-15).
Pride is so subtle that it creeps into our lives undetected, making us to take personal glory in our abilities, possessions, positions, advantages and whatever seems to make us better than others. It puffs us up on the inside, and makes us think that we are more important, invaluable or indispensablethan we truly are. It gives us an exaggerated image of ourselves and makes us think that we don’t really need God in our lives. God hates pride because it is rooted in self; it exalts the creature rather than the Creator, it adores & pursues the blessings of life rather than the One who gave life itself, it worships the things of earth rather than the One who created them. Pride is the devil’s nature, and no wonder the Word tells us:
Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” (James 4:6 AMP)
The NKJV Bible Version simply states:
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Why would God ‘resist the proud’? I believe this is because pride is contrary to His divine nature. When He sees pride in our lives, it reminds Him of the rebellion [and subsequent loss] of one of His precious angels who sought to be superior to his Creator. He certainly doesn’t want His people to have any form of pride – whether it’s in their financial/social status, some special skill/talent, possessions, supernatural/prophetic gifts, accomplishments, fame or abilities. He wants to be acknowledged – as He truly is – as the giver of every good thing in our lives, whether they are natural or spiritual.
However, because of the subtlety of pride, most of us don’t quickly get to know if/that pride is in our lives in some form. It takes the Spirit of God to help us see this and to bring us to the place of humility. Our heavenly Father doesn’t want to resist or oppose us, so He helps us to see our prideful condition and also provides the solution for it. Getting us from pride to humility requires that He takes us to the place of repentance where we can receive forgiveness for any pride in our lives He makes us aware of. Repentance is an act that has weighty implications on your spiritual life and walk with God; it sounds like a common word, but we need to know that very act of repentance is so powerful that it touches the heart of God and releases His grace to teach & keep us walking in humility.
For thus says the high and exalted One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I will dwell in the high and holy place, and with the contrite and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15) – Recovery Version.
We will never experience the best of God’s blessings or be able to walk in close fellowship with Him until we are willing to put off any pride in our lives and instead, choose humility.