Overcoming Pride: Cultivating Humility in Our Hearts

Lord, Free Me From Pride

As Christians, we know that pride is a sin. We have heard it preached from the pulpit and read in God's word. Yet, pride still lingers in our hearts, tempting us to take credit for the good things in our lives and to seek attention for ourselves instead of giving glory to God. So, how do we overcome pride and cultivate humility?

The Root of Pride

Before we can address our pride, we need to understand where it comes from. In the Bible, we see that pride originated with Satan. In Isaiah 14:12-15, we read:

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"

Satan desired to be like God, to be worshipped and adored. His pride led to his downfall and his eternal separation from God.

While we may not have the same level of pride as Satan, we still struggle with the desire to be worshipped and adored. We want to be seen as important, successful, and talented. We want to be praised and recognized for our accomplishments. This desire for glory and attention is the root of pride.

The Danger of Pride

Pride is dangerous because it blinds us to our own faults and leads us away from God. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." When we are prideful, we think we are better than others and don't need help or correction. This can lead to arrogance, selfishness, and a lack of compassion for others.

Moreover, pride can lead to spiritual blindness. In John 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind. The Pharisees, who were religious leaders, question the man and his parents, trying to discredit Jesus. When the man defends Jesus, the Pharisees become angry and say, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" (John 9:34). The Pharisees' pride blinded them to the truth of Jesus' identity and his power to heal.

The Call to Humility

As Christians, we are called to humility. Jesus himself models humility for us. In Philippians 2:5-8, we read:

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Jesus, who is God, humbled himself by taking on human form and dying on the cross for our sins. He didn't seek glory or recognition for himself, but instead, he served others and obeyed his Father's will.

Similarly, we are called to humble ourselves and serve others. In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus says, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." We are not to seek glory or recognition for ourselves, but instead, we are to serve others and give glory to God.

Practical Steps to Cultivate Humility

Cultivating humility is not easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. Here are some practical steps we can take:

1. Confess our pride

The first step to overcoming pride is to confess it. We need to acknowledge that we have a problem with pride and ask God for forgiveness. As it says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

2. Focus on God's glory

Instead of seeking our own glory, we need to focus on giving God glory. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul writes, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Everything we do should be done with the purpose of giving God glory, not ourselves.

3. Serve others

As we saw earlier, Jesus modeled humility by serving others. We can follow his example by serving others as well. In Galatians 5:13, Paul writes, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Serving others helps us to focus on their needs instead of our own and cultivates humility in our hearts.

4. Practice gratitude

Gratitude helps us to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. When we are grateful, we are less likely to take credit for our accomplishments and more likely to give thanks to God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." When we practice gratitude, we are acknowledging that God is the source of all good things in our lives.

5. Seek accountability

We need others in our lives who can help us to see our blind spots and encourage us in our pursuit of humility. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." We should seek out trusted friends or mentors who can hold us accountable and speak truth into our lives.

Conclusion

Pride is a sin that lurks in our hearts, tempting us to seek attention and glory for ourselves. However, as Christians, we are called to humility, following the example of Jesus who served others and gave glory to God. Cultivating humility is not easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. By confessing our pride, focusing on God's glory, serving others, practicing gratitude, and seeking accountability, we can overcome pride and cultivate humility in our hearts.