What is it about pride that has become so dominant in today’s world? Everywhere we look, humility seems to be fading, replaced by self promotion, one upping, and an unwillingness to admit fault. Repentance and compassion feel increasingly rare, almost outdated. It is exhausting to witness, and I cannot help but wonder how the Lord feels as He watches us resist His gentle guidance while our own false pride keeps us at a distance from Him.
God continually desires to lead us along His path, yet pride convinces us we already know the way. It whispers that we are right, that our version of truth is sufficient, and that correction is unnecessary. Before we realize it, pride has created a barrier between us and God, not intentionally, but still devastating in its outcome.
(From the Archives - 2008) - Man how life has changed since then....
As a parent, I try to teach my children the importance of humility and repentance by example. I strive to hold myself to the same standards I expect of them. I do not believe I am an arrogant person, but even making that statement invites reflection. How easily we can excuse ourselves while scrutinizing others. I am aware of my faults, at least some of them, and I do feel conviction when I know I am wrong. Yet I also recognize how natural it is to soften our own failures or delay repentance.
What concerns me most is how disconnected from reality some people become. When personal standards replace truth, there is nothing left to anchor a person. At some point, a self created version of reality becomes a prison. Worse still, it becomes a voluntary separation from God. Though rarely intentional, the result is the same. Pride isolates, blinds, and hardens the heart.
When a person begins to speak inaccurately or justify error, something dangerous happens. The falsehood begins to feel true. It is explained away, defended, and even encouraged. Over time, error grows and becomes increasingly difficult to confront. Humility, if allowed, could interrupt this cycle. It could soften the heart enough to recognize that what feels true may not be truth at all. Without humility, the distance from God only deepens.
I do not believe anyone deliberately chooses this path. Most people never intend to drift so far. But it often begins with a single wrong turn, unchecked and uncorrected. Without the willingness to turn back, the entanglement of error thickens until the way out seems impossible. In truth, the solution is simple, though not easy. It requires acknowledgment. It requires stopping, admitting the wrong direction, and turning around. That step demands humility, and that is what makes it feel so difficult.
As a parent, I find myself continually fighting against the damage this mindset can inflict upon my children. They are exposed daily to attitudes that dismiss accountability and glorify self importance. If I feel weary from confronting it, I can only imagine the grief it brings to the heart of God. He calls us to something better, something deeper, something rooted in truth and love.
Prayer is essential, but prayer alone does not release us from responsibility. There must also be intentional action. We must model humility, practice repentance, and choose compassion even when it costs us pride. We must be willing to listen, to correct ourselves, and to yield when God convicts us.
Pride promises strength but delivers separation. Humility feels costly, yet it brings freedom. When we allow God to search our hearts and soften our defenses, we make room for His truth to lead us back into fellowship with Him. That is where healing begins, not only for ourselves, but for those watching our lives unfold.
What the world needs now is not louder voices or stronger opinions, but quieter hearts willing to bow. Humility draws us closer to God, restores clarity, and opens the door to repentance, compassion, and genuine transformation.
No comments:
Post a Comment