The Signs of Pride List: A Biblical Guide to Recognizing Pride

The 177 Signs of Pride in Your Spouse, Family, Church Staff

Co-workers and Everybody Else Around You… and Your Humility

I’m not sure why God waited until this very moment in your existence to tell you this. You probably weren’t ready to take it until now. You needed to have certain experiences and hardships and a strong enough faith for it to mean anything to you or for you to do anything about it. But He is revealing it to you now. This may be the blindspot in your life that you’ve been missing all these years. Think about it, have you ever heard a teaching specifically about pride or humility?

Proverbs 18:12 Pride or Humility - Choose for your SELF.

12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

“Almost every event has its prophetic prelude. It is an old and common saying, that ‘coming events cast their shadows before them;’... When destruction walks through the land, it casts its shadow; it is in the shape of pride. When honor visits a man's house, it casts its shadow before it; it is in the fashion of humility. ‘Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;’ pride is as surely the sign of destruction as the change of mercury in the weather-glass is the sign of rain, and far more infallibly so than that. ‘Before honor is humility,’ even as before the summer, sweet birds return to sing in our land. Everything hath its prelude. The prelude of destruction is pride, and of honor, humility”. - Charles Spurgeon

Numbers 12:1-3 Oddly, Moses wrote about himself… that he was the most humble man on Earth.

1 Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife. 2 “Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this. 3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.

“Pride wins no crown; men never honor it, not even the menial slaves of earth; for all men look down on the proud man, and think him less than themselves.” - Charles Spurgeon

Benefits of Pride

Here is a quick summary of what God says right in the Bible about the PRIDEFUL man. He DOES NOT listen to the prayers of the Proud nor does He teach them His ways. God humbles (HUMILIATES) them with stress, destruction, poverty, embarrassment, loneliness, loss, suffering and/or pain.

Never does a man or woman look more like Satan than when they are prideful. Never does a person look more like Christ, than when they are humble. My worship pastor said, “Never does a man look more like Satan than when he is up on stage playing music, bring praised by the people and looking really spiritual.”

Benefits of Humility

Here is a summary of what God says in the Bible about the HUMBLE man. God answers the prayers of, teaches His ways to, forgives, gives grace to, dwells closely with, protects, makes wise and prosperous, honors, shows favor to, uses to change the lives of others, lifts up, comforts, fills with joy and peace, gives health, togetherness, unity and strength and has special blessings for the Humble Hearted.

“Are you kidding me? You’re telling me that if my heart is Humble that I get all of that?” Yes, it’s that easy. And imagine these benefits in full color in your marriage, work, ministry, parenting or church. Read below the Signs of Pride List to define what Humility is, what it looks like and how easy it is to have it.

Job 5:17 Disciplined people are blessed people.

17 Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

What you’re about to read is the key to stopping the fighting in your marriage, bringing success to your business, growing your ministry, getting you a higher standing and more treasure in Heaven and the key to leading friends and family in a healthy and spiritual way.

You’ll read the Signs of Pride List in just a few paragraphs, but that’s just to warm you up to read ALL of God’s exact words, written out, that He has spoken to you and me about PRIDE and its anti-venom, HUMILITY, in the Bible. 95% below the list and definitions of PRIDE AND HUMILITY is pure Scripture. If you will listen to what God has to say specifically to you, it will completely change the trajectory of your life and of your kid’s lives and help you to lead in a more impactful way and probably keep you out of major pain and serious misery. And the following questions will finally make more sense and be easy to answer.

Questions About Pride

Why does it seem like God is against me all the time?
Why do I have so many problems in my marriage?
Does God cause calamity and suffering or hard times?
Why does it seem like God never answers my prayers?
What exactly is pride? Isn’t it just being cocky?
What are signs that a person or a church is prideful?
How can I fix my pride and be more humble?

Questions About Humility

What exactly is humility?
Can humility fix my marriage?
Can humility fix all of my problems?
Does God answer humble peoples’ prayers more than others?
Does God bring health and wealth and prosperity?
How is fasting tied to humility and answered prayer and God going above and beyond?
How does humility lead to success?

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS HONESTLY

But, maybe you’re already pretty darn humble and don’t think this book will help you, but you’re just reading it so you can teach it to other people, like your spouse. To help you determine if this book could possibly help you, answer the following questions truthfully. These are just a preview of a few of the signs of pride that are on the comprehensive Signs of Pride List you’ll read in just a minute.

Do you think you’re pretty humble?
Is your marriage not all that great?
Is it easy for you to help others but hard for you to ask for help?
Have you ever had a fight in your marriage or in some relationship?
Is it hard for you when someone pays for your meal?
Do you use different words when you pray in public than when you pray in private?
Do you not pray much?
Are you a supertalker?
Are you very silent?
Do you feel like God is resisting you?
Are you critical?
Do you get defensive?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you REALLY need to keep on reading. This book can change your life. You have a bad case of Pride Breath, but you can’t smell it because you’re used to it. But when you open your mouth, everybody around you smells the stink and tends to avoid you. But take heart, this book will help a ton with your likability too.

MY SAD PRIDE STORY

In April of 2018, one of my Christian employees asked if we could talk privately in my office. He seemed very serious. So, we stepped in and he shut the door behind us and said, “Dave, you’re a very prideful man. I just needed to tell you that.” I raised my eyebrows and kind of with a smile on my face said, “Wow, that’s big of you. Thank you for saying that. I’m sure that was uncomfortable to say. Ummm… in what area could I improve on. I mean, where have you seen me being prideful, because I don’t want to be. God resists prideful people.” He replied, “Just in general”. I was like, “What? I mean, can you give me an example of some things I’ve said or done that are prideful so I can be aware of them and pray about them and work on them? No,” he said, “You’re just very prideful”. I thanked him and opened the door to let him out and then rolled my eyes.

When I got home, I told my wife what he said and she said, "Oh, that’s ridiculous. You’re one of the most humble men I know. Seriously? You're not cocky or flashy and you don’t brag about yourself. Dude’s just jealous."

Fast forward two days; driving to work, I was listening to a book called, The Ideal Team Player. The author was saying to watch out for the really prideful people at work because they aren’t usually the bragging, cocky, arrogant types. They’re the nice, friendly, helpful ones who put their heads down and do good work, but they’re absolutely the worst ones to have on your team.

Hmmm… That confused me and made me think that maybe my definition of pride wasn’t all that complete. So, when I got into the office, I googled “signs of pride list” and started reading. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I saw myself on a lot of the lists and some of the symptoms or signs of pride were very obvious, but most of the things on the list didn’t make sense to me why they were there or why they were all calling this or that pride? The reason I was confused was because I didn’t have a good definition of what pride was.

So, I dug in and started gathering all of the different definitions of pride I could find and that’s when it started to click and the signs of pride on the lists came into color. The word PRIDE is one of those big broad words we assume everybody kind of knows, so we don’t feel we need to define it. It’s the same story with the antonym HUMBLE.

As I dug into what the word PRIDE meant, I started to hear all about the word HUMBLE too and that’s when it started making even more. I remember when it finally made sense. My eyebrows raised, my eyes got kind of big and my mouth draped open a bit and I said, “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!! So that’s what pride is. How in the heck did I not get this before?”

The ways I thought and acted were on a few of the lists and I was shocked. So I went back to my wife and said, "Hey honey, guess what, I found out the root of all of our problems in our marriage and at Saddleback and in all that we do. It’s ME!!! I'm the problem. I’m the Jonah on the boat. Listen to this list of signs of pride that I found about me."

James 4:6 God is against prideful people but gives free gifts to humble ones.

6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

I started reading the list to her and when I finished, a smile cracked on her lips, she pointed her finger at me and then she started laughing out loud and said, "Ha ha ha! You ARE prideful!! I didn't know that's what pride looked like." I rolled my eyes again and told her, “Well, a lot of the lists said that we’ll never not be prideful, but we have to try to control it because it wreaks havoc and brings hurt. The spiritually focused signs of pride lists said that if we pray not to be prideful and have others praying for us, then when we are prideful, it will bother us and help us to not act so pridefully as often. Will you start to pray for my pride?” She agreed.

And then I said, "Oh, and there were some other signs of pride that I found on the lists." The smug smile left her face and her jaw dropped as I read hers. With amazement, she said to me, "Oh no! I didn't realize that’s what pride was. I had no idea I was so prideful. Will you pray for me too?"

And we’ve been praying for eachother and for our kids ever since, that God would teach us and shape us to have a humble heart. Not just be prideful fewer times, but shape us so that we desire humility and that it bothers us when we are prideful. The only time Jesus ever described his heart, was when he said, I’m gentle and my heart is humble. And that describes Jesus most often and most thoroughly in the Bible.

Matthew 11:28-30 This is the only time in the Bible where Jesus described his heart.

28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

In fact, why don’t you read Jesus’s words to you one more time. But this time read them very slowly.

Matthew 11:28-30 This is the only time in the Bible where Jesus described his heart.

4 SIGNS OF PRIDE CATEGORIES

For the next 9 months, I copy and pasted about 50 articles and signs of pride lists from well-known psychologists, dead theologians, famous pastors and even the Wikipedia entry and consolidated them into one master list. A lot of the lists had the same signs of pride as the others, and when you read 50 lists, you start seeing themes, which I grouped into 4 main categories:

Pride of Knowledge
Pride of Spirituality
Pride of Power
Pride of Appearance

YOU ARE TRULY HUMBLE IN MANY SUB-CATEGORIES

Under each of those four categories, from all of the lists combined, I noticed about 24 specific sub-categories of signs of pride that could describe a person. Imagine a row of 24 jars of water on a long table and the water in them is your pride. In, let’s say, 19 of the categories where you could be prideful, the jars are bone dry. No water in them at all. You are genuinely humble in those 19 different ways.

But imagine 2 or 3 of those jars are filled about 10% to 20% with pride. Not too noticeable, but it’s kind of a problem. Then, a couple of the jars are completely filled up to the top with pride. In one of them, the pride even kind of bubbles up above the top of the rim, and when you see it you say, “Dude, look at that. How does it bubble up that high and not flow over?” You are full of pride and everybody in the room, but you, sees it and smells it and privately rolls their eyes behind your back.

And you say, “Toughen up buttercup. Sure I’ve got a little pride here and there, but doesn’t everybody? It’s just the way I am and you’re going to have to get used to it”. That’s like saying, “What are you complaining about? There’s just a little bit of poop on the bottom of my shoe. It’s not like there’s a lot of it. Just plug your nose and deal with it moron” or “Yeah, I’ve just got a little bit of cancer, but I’m okay with that”.

REALLY, you’re saying, “Hey God, I don’t care that I’m regularly walking around and living in this sin of pride against You, but I’m okay with not having all that great of a relationship with you anyways”. Seriously?!!! Do you think God will just ignore you raising your fist up in His face? Nope, you’ve got it coming because God loves you too much to let you walk around with it.

THE MASTER SIGNS OF PRIDE LIST

The 4 Major Types of Pride

and the

24 Categories Within Them

DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER

You’re about to read the Signs of Pride, but don’t be mad at me. I just wrote down what everybody else says all over the internet. If you don’t agree with something on the list, then I suggest you google “pride defensiveness” or "pride depression” or “pride low self esteem” or “pride critical” to understand better why so many people consider it a sign of pride. But first, read all of the scriptures in the whole Bible that are listed in the rest of this book, to understand what God thinks about pride AND THEN google it.

Pride of Knowledge

They try really hard to confirm the fact that they’re smart SO THAT people will recognize their great intelligence and honor them. And it may be true that God gifted them with a very highly functioning brain so that they would say and do things SO THAT God would be honored or magnified (made bigger and clearer so people could know Him better). He didn’t give them that brain or those thoughts so their SELF would be honored and magnified. But these people say and do things SO THAT we will praise them for their intelligence.

Unteachable

Get irritated if someone tries to teach them something.
Won’t take advice.
Know it all.
Answer “I know, I know” or “Yeah, I already knew that”.
Too smart for a formal education or training. “But what could I learn?”
Often interrupt people mid-sentence “I don’t mean to interrupt, but…”. It means there couldn’t be anything that you could say that could help them.

Highly opinionated

Finish other people’s sentences “I know what you're going to say. You were going to say...”
Often try to prove people wrong.
If questioned or challenged, they say, “Don’t you think I know what I’m doing?”
Don’t listen to the ideas or wisdom of those they lead.
Use big words and then explain them to you.
Despise and detest people of other political beliefs.
They always make all the rules because they know better than everyone else what is best.

Defensive when corrected or justly criticized

If you ever get defensive in marriage, then you have pride and it has to be dealt with. We think the best defense is a great offense when our pride is hurt.

Proverbs‬ ‭13:10 Fighting can’t happen unless pride is involved.

10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

Attack back when questioned or confronted about a mistake or wrong.
Struggle admitting a wrong.
Defend their kids and attack anyone who addresses their kid’s wrong behavior (because they think it reflects badly on them).
Refuse to or are slow to say, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”
Blame everyone else but themselves.
Set up excuses in advance so it isn’t their fault.
Lie or make up excuses when corrected or criticized.
Say things like, “Everybody makes mistakes. Heck, you make mistakes too”

Argumentative

Just have to be right

Don’t discuss differences to learn, just to show off how much they know.
"Told you so". Remind you about when they were right and you were wrong.
Have to get the last word.
Argue strange, hard to defend beliefs or doctrines to impress with their intellect.

Critical

Highlight other’s flaws to make their SELF feel better.

Quick to correct or criticize spouses, kids, pastors and other leaders.
Criticize with no intention of building up or improving the situation.
Harsh teasing to tear down.
Tries to determine whose fault it was.
Negative and complain a lot.
Don’t show much mercy.
Mean spirited.

Pride of Spirituality

They try really hard to confirm to everybody the fact that they are spiritually minded, so that people will praise them, be impressed with, honor them or talk about their spirituality even when they’re not around. They may have a great knowledge of the Bible, be very spiritually minded and have more public facing spiritual gifts and abilities that God gave them, but they say and do things just to make sure people are aware of these facts. And it makes their SELF feel really good that their image is lifted up and praised like that. This has been my own problem.

If you want to measure the level of someone’s holiness (Christlikeness), do not look at how they exercise their spiritual gifts or natural abilities or Bible knowledge or how charismatic they are with a microphone in hand or how much fruit is flowing from their ministry or how much money they have. Look at their level of humility, because humility flows out of holiness. If their heart is like Jesus’s heart, then they will be humble like Jesus and therefore holy like Jesus. The signs of humility are after this Signs of Pride List. A hint: If someone regularly serves others in small simple ways throughout the day, that’s a good sign.

If they’re a nice humble person in front of everybody, but not nice or humble at home, then that’s just called image management, but that person is filled with pride.

“I have known men talk about their corruption most marvellously, pretending to be all humility, while at the same time they were the proudest wretches that could be found this side the gulf of separation. Oh! my friends, ye cannot tell how many shapes pride will assume; look sharp about you, or you will be deceived by it, and when you think you are entertaining angels, you will find you have been receiving devils unawares.” - Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 6:1-13 Jesus repeated this in different gospels because it’s really really important.

1 “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Satan can imitate a lot but he can’t imitate a humble heart.

Asceticism

They reject money, pleasure, joy, fame or possessions (They mistakenly think God likes that).

Brags about how NOT materialistic they are.
Excessively gives away nice possessions or money that God gives them.
Tells everyone, “I gave up a high paying career to do this ministry”.
Makes excuses for the physical blessings in their life.
Looks down their SELF righteous noses at the wealthy or the successful as if they are spiritually superior to them.

Super Christians

It is good to talk about and dwell on spiritual things. God loves that. When someone ONLY talks about spiritual stuff, it could be a problem. They are so spiritually minded that they are no earthly good. Oftentimes, they’re like that to impress people with their spirituality and they end up feeling superior to the Christian masses. It makes their SELF feel nice. I say, “You mean because God called you and put you in your environment and grew you with your influences and shaped you for his purposes and gave you opportunities? What part did you have in who you are so that you can feel good about your SELF doing anything?”

Spiritualize every conversation.
Unnecessarily follow lots of rules that are gray areas in the Bible, that they obey (legalism).
Speak with a different accent or voice about spiritual stuff.
Think they’re more spiritual or righteous than others around them.
Feel morally superior.
Despise and detest sinners who struggle with the more public sins that they don’t.
Insist on having certain roles in the church that they're disqualified or not qualified for, just to prove to people that they're spiritual.
Talk a lot about their spiritual gift of apostle or prophet, but not about the less public ones.
Talk about how much they pray.
Intentionally put their well worn and marked up Bible out for people to see how much they study and spend time in the Word.
Talk about their fasting SO THAT people know they're fasting.
Rehearse or spruce up their public prayers using different words and phrases that they would never use when praying alone.
Look down on or badmouth Christians who believe differently than they do about spiritual gifts or other non-negotiable core theological topics.
In prayer, they talk to the people around them when they, as our representative, are supposed to be talking to God on our behalf. They give mini-sermonettes to teach their audience or remind the listeners of the upcoming week's schedule, etc. during their prayers.
Say, "I'll pray for that" when they absolutely have no intention of praying for it. Because that sounds spiritual for sure.

False Humility

Humility is seeing yourself, and what you do, the way it actually is. Pride, or false humility, is not seeing yourself or what you do the way it actually is.

Don’t accept compliments, but instead say, "Thank you but no. It was all God" (If it were all God, it would have been WAY better than what you just did it).
Tell you that they’re humble, “In my humble opinion”.
Say that they’re lower and worse than everyone else.
Tell people that they’re not worth anything. That they’re a lowly nobody worm.

“The mimicry of humility is a very common piece of masquerading. You shall find persons speaking in very lowly terms of themselves, but they do not expect you to believe them. A brother who has called himself worldly in prayer, if you should tell him in private conversation that you were glad to hear his truthful description of himself, would not take it at all kindly, but would ask who and what are you that you should judge him; he is as spiritual as you are, and perhaps more so.” - Charles Spurgeon

Pride of Power

2 Chronicles‬ ‭26:16 Power breeds pride.

16 But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction… ‬

They try really hard to confirm the fact that they’re capable.

Controlling

Being obeyed gives their SELF a nice feeling, a sense of power.

Excessively taking care of and shielding their older children.
Pay traffic tickets or other consequences for their kid’s irresponsibility.
Manipulate to keep their adult children close.
Try to control or sway their adult children’s marriages.
Men who use women and keep them hanging on.
Get angry to shut down discussion when someone wants to do something else or even discuss going another option.
Threaten to boycott events.
Attack the person verbally when they bring up a different idea.
Threaten divorce by throwing their wedding ring or making statements.
Withhold affection.
Physically abusive to make sure they aren’t challenged again.

Legalistic

Control through excessive rules - their SELF feels really nice when they are obeyed.

Don’t want kids to rebel or look unspiritual mostly so that the parent’s SELF or Image isn’t tarnished
Must have the appearance of spirituality in strict dress codes and grooming.
King James Version is the only version you can read (huge red flag on many lists).
Hold to a few chosen Old Testament laws to obey.
No movies with magic in them, no alcohol, cigars, pork, dancing, playing cards, secular music, tattoos, piercings, no Halloween or absolutely no work on Sundays (except for pastors and church staff, of course).

Won’t Submit

It makes their SELF falsely feel inferior if they have a positional leader, though it has nothing to do with wisdom, knowledge or ability. They should think of it like they are an enlisted soldier submitting to a Colonel. The Colonel is superior to the enlisted soldier in position and responsibility, but in essence they are equally as important as men and they both have excellent or even have stronger giftings than the other.

James‬ ‭4:5-8 Humble people submit.

5 Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy? 6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…

Want the autonomy to decide how to live their life, so won’t submit or surrender to God.
Hate being told to do anything
Will submit in the little things, but not in the big things
Church members won't submit to church leaders, they just complain about them
Citizens won't submit to government
Wives won't submit to husbands
Children won't submit to parents
Employees won't submit to employers. They like to spell BOSS backwards. Double S-O-B

Self Reliant

SELF made men don’t want or think they need guidance, help or wisdom from God or man and won’t acknowledge that it happened if it does.

Hosea‬ ‭13:6‬ An succesful like can make the heart proud.

6 When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.”

John 3:27 Any success comes from God.

27 John replied, ‘A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

Independence
Fear or worry a lot because they depend on their own abilities
Hate to rely on others
Think their abilities are superior to others
Don’t let others make decisions
Have a hard time letting others pay for their meal
Are bothered when a decision is made without them
Don’t see much need for prayer
Willing to help, but not be helped
Willing to financially support others, but can’t ask for support from others
Rarely say the words “Thank you” to God or man.

Romans 1:21-22 Fools (the proud) don’t give thanks.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

2 Chronicles‬ ‭32:25‬ A proud heart doesn’t recognize God’s favor.

25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him.

“Lots of you here are waiting till you feel some singular feeling, or see some strange vision, or undergo a special experience; you cannot believe Christ’s bare word: you are too proud to be saved by that only.” - Charles Spurgeon

Excessive Need For Credit, Praise Or Admiration

Hungry to be made mention of or honor for accomplishments, service or selflessness
Lie about events or accomplishments, way beyond embellishing a story to make it fun
Lie to take credit for things they didn’t do
Don’t give compliments or credit to whom it is due
Hate sharing the spotlight
Shoot down other people’s good ideas or don’t share other people’s good ideas

Importance

They feel that the value of their SELF grows with accomplishments, status, wealth or success.

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭28:5 Wealth causes the heart to become proud.

5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it.

People who exploit others to get rich i.e. health and wealth televangelists, those who prey on the elderly's money etc.
Think their worth to God is based on their sacrifices of time, family or money
Think that everybody needs their help.

“The more thou hast, the more thou art in debt to God; and thou shouldst not be proud of that which renders thee a debtor.” - Charles Spurgeon (Translation: The more you have, the more you are in debt to God because He is the one who gave it to you. You shouldn’t be proud of yourself for being in debt).

Workaholic or Volunteeraholic

Believes work gives their SELF more worth

Believe that the value of their SELF is based on performance
Obsessed with praise for their discipline, schedule, productivity or busyness
Love the feeling of their SELF being praised and built up more than they care about the SELF of their kids who don’t believe their SELF is worth much anymore because dad doesn’t spend time with them
Work long hours doing the work of 2 - 3 people. Often called a Workhorse or a Machine
Serve or work so much that it hurts their family relationships
Volunteers for everything
Hungry to be depended on
Can’t say no
People pleaser
Can’t set boundaries
Addicted to power and control
Don’t delegate much

Grandiosity

Think they are superior to the common man, in their essence, to the point that some even believe they are god-like.

Condescending and disdainful attitude toward people because of their tastes being inferior to theirs in food, restaurants, sports, movies and other likes and dislikes
Look down their noses, demeans, belittles, intimidates, bullies others who's likes or dislikes differ from their own superior ones
Have an unrealistic sense of, and sustained view of, their own SELF as better than other people
Have a strong sense of personal uniqueness or coolness
Believe that few people have anything in common with their SELF
Believe that their SELF can only be understood by very few and special people

Boastful

Isaiah‬ ‭2:11 Proud people exalt their own SELF.

11 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.‬

Overly materialistic hoping that people will think more highly of their SELF
Skillfully brag about their successful work or ministry, in a humble sounding way
Hint around at their success
Claim that they're a genius or one of the best ever or one of the best on their team
Talk a lot about their importance, status, accomplishments, possessions, education, title, position, credentials or financial status
Name drop the high-status people they associate with
Surround themselves with good looking or successful people
Think certain tasks would lower their image or value of their SELF
Think they’re above certain tasks
Feel entitled to high treatment
Feel superior to or are prejudiced towards less wealthy, refined, educated or less successful people or those from a different country or culture

Inconvenience Others

The world revolves around their SELF. They are not situationally aware or considerate of the people around them to block the aisle with their shopping cart or take up two parking spaces or make others go around them. They are SELF-centered, ego-centric, SELF-absorbed

Feel powerful when people have to wait on them. I often wonder if people who drive slow in the fast lane and won't let people pass were born jerks or are just ignorant
Regularly make everyone wait on them to get to the meeting so they can start
Inconsiderate. Don’t consider other people’s time.
Goes golfing, fishing or does whatever thing with friends on weekends instead of helping with the kids and spending time with family

Not Interested In Other People

Rarely ask questions of others because they’re more interested in their own SELF than in the SELF of others.
Dominate conversations talking about their SELF thinking or how much they know SO THAT we're impressed with their SELF
Rarely compliment people
Wait to be served instead of serve
Neglect others
Not generous
Abandon their family to pursue their own SELF feeling good

Low SELF-esteem or SELF-worth

Humility is seeing your own SELF the way it actually is. Pride is not seeing your own SELF the way it actually is.

Constantly thinking of their SELF and what others think about it
Feel inferior
Think they’re not worthy of a good spouse or job
Constantly dating abusive people
SELF-loathing
Believe that people don’t like them
Avoid successful or attractive people
Put their SELF down so that others affirm and build them up
Often say that they’re ugly
Make excuses for their nationality “but I’m of European descent”
Self-conscious for lack of education, beauty, social or economic status
Don’t share their shortcomings or needs

Depression

There are a lot of legitimate medical and traumatic reasons for depression. Focus on SELF and believing what’s not true about their SELF is a very common one. Pride is a major cause of depression for hundreds of millions of people. Rick Warren gave a ten step plan to cure depression. Step One is to find someone worse off than you and pour into them. Steps Two through Ten are to repeat Step One nine more times. In other words, stop thinking about your own SELF so much and start thinking about the SELF of others more.

Shyness

This isn’t about introvert or extrovert, it’s about if they say something then they’re afraid they may say something that makes their SELF look bad or be criticized. A friend of mine said he used to be super introverted and shy until he stopped focusing on his own SELF all the time and until he started caring more about the SELVES of others more.

Overly concerned with others opinions of their SELF
Social isolation
Afraid of not being liked again
Afraid of being criticized again
Afraid of being rejected again
Afraid of embarrassing themselves again

Highly Sensitive

Read into innocent remarks as demeaning, threatening or critical
Can’t laugh at themselves when they do something funny
Can’t accept good natured teasing
Have a hard time forgiving
Are offended when their idea, ability or motive is questioned
Quick to be angry

Envious

James‬ ‭3:16 Lusting for what others have causes SELF-ish behavior.

16 For where jealousy and SELF-ish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

Think that when others have things they don’t, it makes their SELF look bad. “

Constantly compare themselves to others
Bothered when someone equal to them has success
Wants other people’s status symbols to make their SELF look better
Sabotage those close to them so good things or success won’t happen
Believe other people are envious of them

Pride of Appearance

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭28:17 Good looks make people grow proud and lose wisdom.

17 Your heart grew proud of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.

It is important that we do the best with the hand we were dealt and try to present ourselves well. But this pride tries really hard to impress people with their looks or physique. Synonyms - Narcissistic, SELF-love, Conceited, SELF-glorification, Egotistic, SELF-worship. Narcissism is basically when someone loves their own appearance.

Feels their appearance gives their SELF more worth
Thinks their beauty makes their SELF superior to others
Dresses to flaunt their figure/physique so others will praise them
Spends excessive time on hair, clothing, weight, body shape to impress
Anorexia or bulimia
Works hard to avoid the appearance of aging
Often posts photos or videos of themselves exercising
Spends excessive time for their SELF to look good while neglecting family
Is constantly posting SELF-ies on social media

As the thought leader and singer/songwriter, Jimmy Soul, so eloquently sang, in his 1963 hit, If You Want To Be Happy, it can be trying to be married to a beautiful woman because hotties are haughty, but the humble make happy.

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life

Never make a pretty woman your wife

So from my personal point of view

Get an ugly girl to marry you

A pretty woman makes her husband look small

And very often causes his downfall

As soon as he marries her, then she starts

To do the things that will break his heart

Don't let your friends say you have no taste

Go ahead and marry anyway

Though her face is ugly, her eyes don't match

Take it from me, she's a better catch

END OF SIGNS OF PRIDE LIST

If you just got mad because you feel so many people just accused you of being prideful, yet at the same time are flattered that everyone is talking about you, welcome to the club. You’re in the right spot. But here is a truth that is surer than the sunrise.

“Is thine heart haughty, sinner, this morning? Dost thou despise God's sovereignty? Wilt thou not submit thyself to Christ's yoke? Dost thou seek to weave a righteousness of thine own? Art thou seeking to be or to do something? Art thou desirous of being great and mighty in thine own esteem? Hear me then, sinner, destruction is coming upon thee. As truly as ever thou exaltest thyself, thou shalt be abased; thy destruction, in the fullest and blackest sense of the word, is hurrying on to overwhelm thee. And oh! Christian, is thine heart haughty this morning? Art thou come here glorying in thy graces? Art thou proud of thyself, that thou hast had such high frames and such sweet experiences? Mark thee, brother, there is a destruction coming to thee also. Some of thy proud things will be pulled up by the roots, some of thy graces will be shattered, and thy good works, perhaps, will become loathsome to thee, and thou wilt abhor thyself in dust and ashes. As truly as ever thou exaltest thyself, there will be a destruction come to thee, O saint—the destruction of thy joys and of thy comforts, though there can be no destruction of thy soul.” - Charles Spurgeon

PRIDE AND HUMILITY DEFINED

The only reason I can think of why hardly anyone teaches on pride and humility or prays for it, is because most people, particularly pastors, haven’t been taught what a full biblical definition of humility and pride are and therefore don’t recognize the pride or lack of humility in their own lives. If they are as blind as I was, they think they’re already pretty humble.

To define pride better, I also defined what humility is too, which is the key to answered prayer, sustained peace, joy and success on Earth and heaps of treasures in Heaven. It is the anti-venom of pride and your family needs you to desire it.

But more importantly, 90% of this book is made up of 345 written out Bible verses and passages about pride and humility, so you know what God thinks about it and it lets Him speak to you directly through his Word, instead of me. It’ll be like a long and interesting counseling session and thorough teaching by God, directly to your heart.

And I put a short one line summary before most verses to make sure you catch the emphasis that I saw in those scriptures. The first 5% of all of this writing is mainly definitions and clarification of the terms pride and humility so it will jump off the page at you as you read the most important part of this book, God’s words to you, which are the Bible verses.

I organized the pride and humility verses so they dance together to make more sense. Sometimes, I included complete Bible stories and other times just the verses before and after the verse about pride or humility so you can understand them better in context. And I often trimmed the fat by cutting out the verses within those passages that cloud the point.

As they say in Bora Bora, “Why run when you can walk”. Take your time reading through all of this and maybe read it again a few times. The goal is not that you read it. The goal is that you internalize it so that God changes you from the inside and so you can recognize it in your life when it does bare its ugly head. And then, you can help others recognize it too. If you do and God changes you, this will be the best marriage book or business book or self-help book you could ever read. And the reason is, it is almost completely God’s words directly to you on the subject.

Here are a few definitions I looked up because I really didn’t have a full understanding of what Pride and Humility are. After getting a clear definition, most of the signs of pride on the list will make way more sense when you read them a second time.

SELF

Our SELF. I, ego. “me”. Everyone has a SELF inside of us and it’s neutral. It’s not good or bad. But a lot of times it comes out in ugly ways and hurts people. In the New Testament, the word SELF is the Greek word AUTO. An AUTOmatic transmission in a car shifts gears by it SELF. It’s WAY easier and less painful if we humble our own SELF than if God humbles our SELF. If our ego’s belly gets fed too much at one time, there is a greater tendency to throw up all over everybody and then develop a craving for more feeding. I’ve seen this in me and others close to me when we are praised or when our image is impressive to others.

Mark 8:34 To truly and deeply follow Jesus, you need to deny your SELF.

34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny him-SELF and take up his cross and follow Me.

NEW SELF vs OLD SELF

When someone believes, as fact, deeply in their heart, that Jesus died for their sins, was buried and then was raised on the third day, then they take off their old SELF and put on a new SELF which is being renewed day by day.

Ephesians 4:21

21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus— 22 to put off your former way of life, your old SELF, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new SELF, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

HEART

The Heart is the spiritual part of our innermost SELF, where our emotions and desires live. The heart is both the seat of pride and the seat of humility.

Proverbs 4:23

23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

“Make the tree good, and then the fruit shall be good; make the fountain pure, and the stream shall be sweet.” - Charles Spurgeon

GOOD PRIDE

In the Bible, Godly character, God honoring people, creatures and nature have a positive pride. We should be proud of beautiful things, places and excellent work but we should not seek after an elevated image so that we are praised in people’s minds.

BAD PRIDE is when it’s all about our own SELF - being SELF-ish

Pride is narcissism (in love with our image or SELF).
Pride is SELF-centered or EGO-centric (everything revolves around our SELF).
When someone thinks more highly or lowly of their SELF than what is actually true.

Of course, God wants us to take care of our SELF and not let our SELF go. We need to care for our own needs. That is important. We shouldn’t say yes to everything.

It is saying and doing things, or not saying or doing things, so our SELF feels nice. Often, it is putting our SELF, feeling good, ahead of the SELF of others feeling good. One way is we do things so our image looks good and people are impressed with us and pat us on the back and talk highly about us. It can be seeking the honor, praise or worship of man, which makes our SELF feel good.

The other way is saying or doing things for pleasure for our SELF. Caring more about my SELF first and the SELF of others around me second. My SELF first, God being worshipped and praised second. It is going from Jesus reigning over our lives, to SELF interest and what my SELF wants and making my SELF feel good, ruling over our lives.

Philippians 2:3-5 Selfishness is the opposite of humility. Take care of (love) the SELF of others.

3 Do nothing out of SELF-ish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than your-SELVES. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

Matthew 22:36-40 The second commandment is to love others like you love your own SELF.

36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as your-SELF.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Galatians 5:14 Loving others like you love your own self is what God wants.

14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 All the negatives are symptoms of pride which is the opposite of humble. Love is humility in action.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not SELF-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

BAD PRIDE is like a cancer that slowly grows, then consumes and destroys us if we do not actively, daily and hourly, fight against it by asking for God’s help. It never goes away. It’s like a hungry lion living inside of us. Sometimes it sleeps, but sometimes it awakens and can do a lot of damage. An apple tree produces apples just as a SELF tree produces pride. The result of pride is always destruction.

2 Timothy 3:1-8 Being a lover of self, results in this list.

1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of them-SELVES, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without SELF-control, brutal, without love of good, 4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! 6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.

WATCH FOR THIS IN THE BIBLE

King David uses synonyms in parallel sentences to get ideas across.

The poet uses interchangeable words in couplets to teach thoughts.

THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE

Proud is used interchangeably with the word Fool.

Humble is used interchangeably with the word Wise.

Proverbs 3:34-35 Humble men are wise and get grace and honor while the proud are fools and get dishonor.

34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.

Proverbs 11:2, 29 Humility is with wisdom, and pride is with foolishness and dishonor.

2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom… 29 He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

HUMILITY is the currency of Heaven. The most humble will be the most honored in Heaven because they will be the most like Jesus. Humility is the ultimate and defining mark of a fully devoted follower of Christ.

Humble or Lowly can mean to be financially poor or in hard physical circumstances. To “be brought low” is to be humbled.
Humility is not thinking less of your SELF. It is thinking of your SELF, less often.
Jesus was humble and lowly and God is shaping us to be like Jesus. Jesus humbly pointed everyone to God the Father and not to his SELF.
Humility is desiring God to get 100% of the honor and we get 0% of the honor. That the SELF of our family and friends feels good and gets lifted up, honored and encouraged, ahead of our own SELF.
That God is everything and we are nothing. Not saying that we are worms and losers, but that God is all.
Our marriage counselor says that Humility (actions of love) for others flow out of the love (humble actions) that have been demonstrated to us by God. Therefore, humble actions in our marriage (loving actions) result in love (loving feelings) in our marriage. It took a while for that to sink in but the more I thought on it, the more it made sense. When I started physically serving my wife in little ways and more often, she responded with being kinder and more loving to me.

“Now let us briefly enquire, in the first place, what is humility? The best definition I have ever met with is, "to think rightly of ourselves." Humility is to make a right estimate of one's-self. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought, though it might rather puzzle him to do that. Some persons, when they know they can do a thing, tell you they cannot; but you do not call that humility? A man is asked to take part in some meeting. "No," he says, "I have no ability;" yet, if you were to say so yourself, he would be offended at you. It is not humility for a man to stand up and depreciate himself and say he cannot do this, that, or the other, when he knows that he is lying. If God gives a man a talent, do you think the man does not know it? If a man has ten talents he has no right to be dishonest to his Maker, and to say, "Lord, thou hast only give me five." It is not humility to underrate yourself, Humility is to think of yourself, if you can, as God thinks of you. It is to feel that if we have talents, God has given them to us, and let it be seen that, like freight in a vessel, they tend to sink us low. The more we have, the lower we ought to lie. Humility is not to say, "I have not this gift," but it is to say, "I have the gift, and I must use it for my Master's glory. I must never seek any honor for myself, for what have I that I have not received?" But, beloved, humility is to feel ourselves lost, ruined, and undone. To be killed by the same hand which, afterwards, makes us alive, to be ground to pieces as to our own doings and willings, to know and trust in none but Jesus, to be brought to feel and sing—

"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling."

Humility is to feel that we have no power of ourselves, but that it all cometh from God. Humility is to lean on our beloved, to believe that he has trodden the winepress alone, to lie on his bosom and slumber sweetly there, to exalt him, and think less than nothing of ourselves. It is in fact, to annihilate self, and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as all in all.” - Charles Spurgeon

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek humility.

3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.

Psalm 45:4 One of God’s main causes is humility.

4 In your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may your right hand show your awesome deeds.

Isaiah 58:1-7 God desires a humble outward focused heart, not false humility (fasting to get stuff for SELF). God wants our heart right, for us to fast and be thinking about the SELF of others.

1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” 3 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. 4 You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. 5 Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to humble him-SELF, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? 7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

BUT WHAT IF I’M ALREADY PRETTY HUMBLE?

Proverbs 13:10 Ever have a fight in your marriage or in a relationship?

BSB 10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

KJV 10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

I came home from work late one time and my wife ripped me up one side and down the other for working too much. She said I was a terrible father and a terrible husband and a terrible example of a godly man.

A humble man would have responded, “Honey, I am so sorry that I have made you feel this way by working too much. You deserve better than that and so do the kids. I will work on that and I need your help to remind me sometimes. But I will get better at coming home earlier”. Will you please forgive me?” That response would have ended it right there.

But instead, I responded to take the focus off of my SELF and dumped it onto her SELF, “Well, you know, if there were actually food cooked sometimes for me and the kids when I got home, then maybe I would want to come home sooner. But noooooo… you’re so ‘busy’ on your phone that you don’t have time to be even a decent mother or wife. It’s because everything you do and every person you’re talking to is more important than us.” I’m sure you can imagine how my prideful response went over. And so went the fighting.

“Men do not quarrel when their ambitions have come to an end. When each one is willing to be least, when everyone desires to place his fellows higher than him-SELF, there is an end to party spirit; schisms and divisions are all passed away.” - Charles Spurgeon

WHY SO MUCH SCRIPTURE?

Please don’t shoot the messenger. These aren’t MY ideas of what I think signs of pride look like, I just copied and pasted everyone else’s partial lists into one big fat fairly comprehensive list for your reading displeasure. And then, I copy and pasted every single fully written out instance where God specifically chose to use the words Humble, Humbly, Humility, Humiliation, Lowly, Pride, Proud, Haughty and Arrogant, and all of their variations in the whole Bible, and put those into categories too. The good pride, the bad pride and the ugly, and with the verses before and after those words so you can understand more specifically, in context, what caused it and what was the result of it.

I feel that concentrating all of God’s thoughts throughout the Bible on pride and humility, in one place, is like concentrating sunlight through a magnifying glass. And then I added in an occasional “I noticed this” or “pay attention to that” note before each verse or passage and then underlined and bolded certain things for emphasis in the verse. God will change your life (heart) if you deeply desire Him to. Humility is one of God’s main causes and what He desires and requires in us.

I trimmed the fat a little from the large sections of Scripture, to keep on topic and wrote out the complete verses instead of just giving you the Bible references, because most people don’t look them up. And reading Bible references doesn’t change your life, reading God’s actual words does.

I’m counting on that if you read ALL that God ever had to say about Humility and Pride, in context, then the Holy Spirit, inside of you, will teach you through His words, what He specifically wants you to learn, rather than you just reading my incomplete thoughts about Pride and Humility. Did you get that? This is ALL that God ever wrote using the words of Pride and Humility. Also, if there’s a story about humility or pride that was repeated three times in a few different books of the Bible, then it’s pretty clear to me that God thought it was really really really important for us to read it three times. Some passages of Scripture I repeat in different places because they’re worth repeating too.

There are a lot of stories about pride and humility, but God didn’t use those words. He showed us examples of people who thought about the SELF of others more than their own SELF. Like King David. He started out a humble shepherd boy who trusted in God with his whole heart. He had some success and everybody praised him. He became king and became super prideful, to the point that he raped Bathsheba (like she had a choice) and murdered her husband. All so he could make his SELF feel good above the SELF of others. Then God humbled him when he got called out by the prophet. Then his son died. Then another son tried to kill him. Then on and on. Rough life. But when God humbled him, David wrote,

Psalm 51:16-17 God doesn’t just desire humble actions, He wants a humble heart.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

By the way, I looked up the word contrite and it means to be repentant and remorseful. To turn and go the other direction and that it really bother us. Many other versions of the Bible translate it as a humble and contrite heart.

There are also stories of saints who served and did everything they could do to direct everyone to God and put all of the spotlight on Him. Once you’ve read what you’re about to read, you won’t be able to unsee pride and humility the next time you read through the Bible. You’ll see it everywhere, even if they don’t use the words. But pretty much, this whole book is full of other people’s thoughts on humility and pride, but primarily God’s thoughts. I just organized them and put them all in one place. I used the Berean Standard Bible because it is a solid translation and the only modern one that is free to the public.

HOW TO READ THIS

If you’ve gotten this far, then my inner Sherlock Holmes deducts that you already know how to read a book, but here are some suggestions and thoughts about how you may want to consider reading THIS document:

Pray each time you pick it up and ask God to highlight things that you need to hear.
Don’t be in a hurry to finish this book just so you can finish the next book and say you read the books. Why run when you can walk? Stop and re-read certain scriptures slowly. Soak in God’s words. Sometimes it takes me reading or hearing something 4 or 5 times before the light bulb comes on for me.
Expect that God is going to speak to you. For some reason, God waited until this exact moment in your life for you to choose this book and to sit at His feet and hear what He thinks about Humility and Pride.
Practice different forms of humility to strengthen the Humble Heart muscle, for the whole day or the whole week.
Ask God to reveal your pride and shape in you a humble heart.
Read the Bible a lot so you learn more or be reminded about God’s love for you.
Fast and ask God to shape in you a humble heart.
Be thankful to God for at least ten gifts (abilities and things) He has graced you with.
Ask five connected questions of someone each day.
Compliment someone each day on something you like about them or their appearance.
Do one little act of kindness or service each day that someone else doesn’t deserve.

Now that you’re past the intro and about to read the big Signs of Pride List, let the rest of this book be your daily Bible reading since it’s about 99% God’s words to you anyways. May God teach you a deeper meaning, specifically for you?

HOW TO DEVELOP A HUMBLE HEART TODAY

Why wait until you finish the book to start working on humility. Here are some non-SELF exercises to start strengthening TODAY, and shaping your HUMBLE HEART muscle to be the dominant heart muscle, over the PROUD HEART muscle. With a lot of sets and reps, a humble heart will become the dominant muscle deep inside of you. It’s like God is your personal trainer to coach you and spur you on to keep exercising it.

Ask God - The most important thing is that throughout the day you ask God to shape your heart to be humble. BUT, if you don’t genuinely have the desire for it, but you know you should, no problem. Here’s what you do. Pray that God will give you the desire to have a humble heart. Duh!!! You will hear me repeat this again and again because they say repetition is the mother of all learning.

Proverbs 21:1-4 The condition of the heart is what matters to God because out of it flows actions.

1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases. 2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

Read the Bible Consistently - When I started praying for God to shape me into the kind of man who Jesus enjoys abiding in and who he enjoys that I abide in him, God put it in me to read through the Bible in the next 3 months. It was ridiculous. I copy and pasted it into a Google Doc and then highlighted all of the verses I thought were cool, odd, familiar or that talked about who God was.. As I was reading through it, God put in my head the whole idea of what it is to have a humble heart, not to just do humble actions or not to just be prideful less often. Then, He put it in my heart to copy down all of these verses on pride and humility and put them in one spot. I couldn’t stop and here we are.

Fast - Yeah, I know it’s brutal, but starting off with a 3 day 72 hour water only fast, not “fasting” from social media or gluten or beer or Netflix. That’s called abstaining. Fasting is when you are so desperate that you are willing to even go without something that is brutally hard to go without. And nobody willingly goes without eating unless they are desperate. I usually try everything I can think of before I humble my SELF with fasting.

I was super surprised to see how Fasting + Humility + Answered Prayer are SO tied together in so many places in the Bible, which you’ll read the scripture about later in the book. Fasting is an outward sign of an inward humble position of the heart. It is saying, “God, I am desperate for you to intervene, because I can’t do it by myself. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me”. He loves those sorts of prayers.

Be Thankful - Pray a lot of “thank you” prayers to God. It helps us to remember that any success or good thing we have did not come from us. Thank Him for everything. The dog, the bed, the job, the health, what He is doing through you and for you in your sickness, the accident you survived, the pretty flowers out front by the steps, the air conditioner, for your spouse, the sunset, the fact that Jesus paid for all of your sins by dying on the cross, then was buried and then rose again three days later (the gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul defined it). Thank Him for his power in your life. For his direction etc.

Try to tell God at least 20 things you’re thankful for each day. You can thank Him for the same things on different days, or heck, on the same day if you want. The rule is, there is no rule. Thank Him for the good, the bad and the ugly because even though we don’t understand everything, we do understand that He knows what’s up and we are thankful for what He is going to do through the hard thing and because of it. Thankfulness makes us remember that God is all powerful and only because of Him do we have our abilities, gifts, possessions or success. Our marriage counselor said that thankfulness is the killer of pride. Thank your spouse and others for things too.

Deuteronomy 8:16-18 SO THAT they would learn dependence on God rather than on their own strength, which is for our longterm benefit.

16 He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper. 17 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” 18 But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.

Ask Questions - It’s so surprising how few people actually ask people questions? Many of the lists say that that’s a major sign of pride. The reason people don’t ask other people questions is because they’re not interested in the SELF of other people. They’re mainly interested in their own SELF. If they were interested in other people, they would want to learn about them.

Get good at asking questions. It’s an art. Try to ask related and connected questions. Not like, “What’s your mother’s eye color? Where were you born? What was your first pet’s name? NOOOO!! How about these? How long have you lived around here? Really? Where did you move from? Oh, how interesting!! What do you miss about that place? Why did you move here? Oh interesting. How did you get involved in that kind of work? If you could go back in time, would you still get into that same line of work? Which other profession would you choose?” etc. Question asking takes practice, but soon enough you will get good at it and even start to like asking questions. Asking questions takes the focus off of your SELF and onto the SELF of others.

Because this book is mostly God’s words to you straight from the Bible, specifically about humility and pride, I believe it will solve ALL marriage problems if reading these Scriptures results in the reader desiring a truly humble heart. And I’m not exaggerating like my wife does. She’s the biggest exaggerator in the whole universe. But if you take God’s words to heart and He gives you the desire to have a Humble Heart, it will change everything. Heck, God’s words about humility and pride will help your business like you could never imagine. Talk about a great SELF help, management, church growth, counseling or parenting book on steroids. And then you teach to others what God says about Pride and Humility because explaining it usually helps it sink deeper into our own hearts.

Psalm 51:16-17 God doesn’t desire humble looking actions but rather He desires a humble heart that is remorseful about SELF-ish actions and doesn’t want to do it again.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Ezekiel 36:24-27 God likes to create new hearts by shaping our hearts.

24 For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. 25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

RECOGNIZE PRIDE

Take heart, we’ll never conquer pride and be pride free. We’ll never be humble all the time, but if we learn what pride looks like and God helps us recognize it when it starts to bubble up, then we can knock it back down before too much damage is done. If people can’t recognize what the signs of cancer look like, then they'll never know they need help until it’s too late and things get really messy. It doesn’t mean that I’m never going to act pridefully and make her feel unloved, but if God shapes in me a Humble Heart, it’ll bother me when I act pridefully and I won’t want to do it again.

MY HUMBLE MOM

I can imagine what it’s going to be like at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb up in Heaven. I’m going to get out my telescope to look up to the front table where Jesus is sitting and I’m going to see my mother in the 3rd or 4th chair over to His right. And I’m going to say, “Hey! Hey! Lookie there. That’s my mom way up there. You go Mom. Good for you!” But I wouldn’t be surprised if Jesus is the one serving us our food.

She passed away in December of 2024, at the age of 79. She was slipping physically and later in the day had some trouble getting the words out of what she wanted to say, but they say that who you truly are at your core often comes out when you’re really old. And she was still as loving and encouraging as ever. As I was thinking about her, I realized that I had never really understood the depth of the humble person I was given as a mother until she was gone.

She served everybody constantly. Even the last time I saw her and she could barely walk, as I sat down she asked, “David, would you like me to get you a cup of coffee or tea?” I thanked her and said no. A little while later she asked, “Would you like me to get a pillow for your feet to rest on?” I again thanked her and said no. She was serving until the end because she had the humble, others-focused, heart of a servant.

She was never critical, not even one time. She always encouraged and always had a smile. She never sought honor for anything she did and was thankful for everything and quickly shared all that she had. She gladly submitted her SELF to my dad and the authorities that were placed over her. She prayed a lot, read her Bible a lot and had a big heart for the lost. That was my mom. She lived to serve and build up everybody else up around her and she never sought a thank you or hinted towards any kind of honor or recognition.

I realized that my mom was the most like Jesus of anyone I have ever known. And I’m serious. She was humble in every aspect of the word. I knew a few people who called her a doormat because they felt that serving too much was above them, but if being a servant of all is what you call a doormat, may I be known as a doormat like my mom and like Jesus were. I pronounced a blessing on my daughter, Sela, after mom’s funeral and said “Sweetie Beautiful, may you be like your MaMa, Carol Ann Munson”. I think it is the most beautiful blessing a person could receive. Some may say, “Well, that’s pretty old fashioned thinking, if you ask me”. I say to them, “Yeah, sure it is. I guess Jesus was a pretty old fashioned kind of thinker too.

DON’T JUDGE ACTIONS

But be careful not to judge a person's heart because of their good or bad actions or words. You’re not God and you can't always tell what is in their heart, even if something looked or sounded prideful. A friend of mine, who is a huge servant and humble in many ways, told me that when he serves others, he usually thinks to himself, "I sure hope they feel cared for and loved". That is a humble spirit. But now and then he said he serves people and says to himself, "I bet they think I'm quite a servant. I bet they think I'm humble". That’s prideful. Don't try to play God and judge their heart because we can’t always interpret their actions and the position of the heart accurately.

“Nothing proves men so mad as pride. For this they have given up rest, and ease, and repose, to find rank and power among men: for this they have dared to risk their hope of salvation, to leave the gentle yoke of Jesus, and go toiling wearily along the way of life, seeking to save themselves by their own works, and at last to stagger into the mire of fell despair. Oh! man, hate pride, flee from it, abhor it, let it not dwell with thee. If thou wantest to have a madman in thy heart, embrace pride, for thou shalt never find one more mad than he.” - Charles Spurgeon

WHY GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD?

But you know what?, I’m kind of a “glass half full” kind of guy, so as I was reading through what God writes about pride and this signs of pride list, I realized the ummm… “benefits” of being prideful or from being around prideful people. When we are really brought low and humiliated, made to be more humble, it brings about our compassion, selflessness, servanthood and sympathy, which, in turn, brings about God’s blessing and the desire to help other prideful people recognize their pride. You know how they say, “It takes a thief to catch a thief?” It’s because they know how they think. Well, it’s the same with prideful people. It takes one to know one.

HUMBLE PRAYERS

I’m sure God doesn’t mind when we pray “God, help my team to win tonight” or “God, help me to get that promotion”, but I do know that if our prayer is for God’s glory and for what God says he wants for us, then the answer is always “Yes”. How about this prayer instead, “God, would you please help me get that promotion and would you use that for more and more people to come to know you because of it.”

I wrote down an example of the prayer that I regularly pray for my own SELF and the SELF of my wife, my daughter, my son, my pastor and the elders of our church, individually. God says that He likes prayers that are according to His will and this prayer definitely is.

Here it is. “God, please shape me into a truly humble person with a humble heart SO THAT you get glory through me. I mean it. Would you help me to recognize my pride when it is coming up and would you please please help me to fight it. And if you wouldn’t mind, would you make it really fun for me to walk humbly with you and would you include me in some of the cool things that you’re doing? Oh, and would you help me to be humble without going through a horrible tragic accident or nasty disease. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

GOD DEMANDS THE IMPOSSIBLE?

But remember, what took a lifetime for you to wind up, won’t unwind in a few weeks. An untended garden can turn into a lot of work, but by perseverance the snail reached the ark. And again, God doesn’t expect us to be perfectly humble all the time. He knows that we will be prideful. What God wants is for us to have a Humble Heart and that it bothers us when we act pridefully.

It doesn’t take long for God to change your heart, but it takes continuous practice and prayer to stop prideful habits and to replace them with humble ones. Just keep slugging away at it. Keep asking people questions. Keep on praying for others. Keep on serving in little ways. A humble action leads to another humble action which, when practiced over and over again, becomes a habit of being humble, which forms in us a Humble Heart.

HUMILITY - THE ANTI-VENOM TO PRIDE

How to be More Humble

and

Less Prideful

The Humble = The Wise || The Proud = The Fool

Proverbs 16:16-23 Better to be humble and wise with understanding than to be prideful and be rich.

16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. 17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. 21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction. 22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Proverbs 12:9 Better to be poor with food than prideful and hungry.

9 Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.

Isaiah 66:1-2 God doesn’t need our high and mighty actions, but will hold in high regard humble people who feel remorseful and are repentant for their sin and who revere His word.

1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? 2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Isaiah 11:4 God will judge the humble and the poor fairly.

4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Galatians 6:3 Don’t think too highly of yourself.

3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

INWARD AND OUTWARD SIGNS OF A HUMBLE HEART

The key to it all is that God changes our hearts to be humble so that is what describes us. So humble is who we are. Once that changes, then the actions change.

A humble heart is what God REQUIRES of us. I was talking to my mom’s 81 year old cousin the other day and he said in his 62 years of walking closely with God, he noticed that when he would meet a truly humble person, they always had it all. They had everything anyone could possibly want or strive for in life and were who everybody else wanted to be like.

Micah 6:8 God requires that we live our lives doing the right thing, forgiving and being humble.

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Two Inward Signs of a Humble Heart

Submission and Total Dependence

A call to humility is a call to be like Jesus. Inwardly, God sees a humble person as one who SUBMITS to His authority, recognizes their own limitations and so understands their TOTAL DEPENDENCE on Him. God also sees that they genuinely have a modest view of their own importance and sees that they daily commit to denying what their old SELF wants.

The Outward Signs of a Humble Heart

Serving and Thankfulness

Humility shows itself outwardly when we actively value and prioritize the SELF of others above our own SELF by SERVING them in little ways and choosing their well being above our own. Humility is marked by public recognition of God’s power over all, which is by BEING THANKFUL to Him for what he has done. Humility seeks to have relationships made right and seeks to be in peaceful community with others.

Psalm 69:29-32 Praising God and thankfulness are marks of the humble and what please God.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain; may Your salvation, God, set me safely on high. 30 I will praise the name of God with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. 31 And it will please the Lord better than an ox or bull with horns and hoofs. 32 The humble have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, let your heart revive.

Acts 2:42-47 Humble hearts share and are others focused, which results in God being praised and goodwill of the people.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. 46 With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 20:18-21 Humble people serve God by sharing the gospel of Jesus, even in adversity.

18 When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews. 20 I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:14-16 Humble people seek peace, are compassionate and do not think too highly of their SELF to associate with the poor.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

2 Corinthians 11:5-7 Humble people know what is true about themselves and live for the good of others.

5 I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible. 7 Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

Ephesians 4:1-5 Humility is necessary for beautiful Christian community and unity.

1 As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Philippians 2:3-11 Obedience and thinking of others first are signs of humility, and God honors that.

3 Do nothing out of SELF-ish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than your-SELVES. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a SERVANT, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names.

Colossians 3:9-17 Our new SELF should be humble by being thankful, forgiving and seeing our SELF of equal importance to others.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old SELF with its practices, 10 and have put on the new SELF, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe your-SELVES with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

James 3:13-17 Those who have spiritual wisdom are humble, marked by selfless behavior and gentleness of wisdom.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and SELF-ish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and SELF-ish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

1 Peter 3:8-9 We inherit a blessing if we are humble in spirit and kind to, and speak well of, those who are mean to us.

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Proverbs 6:1-3 Go humbly to your neighbor to ask for mercy.

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, 2 if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, 3 then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.

Philippians 1:15-18 Some share the gospel out of love for others and some share it insincerely, out of SELF centered pride. Be happy the gospel is getting shared in every way.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former, however, preach Christ out of SELF-ish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. 18 What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

2 Samuel 16:1-4 It humbles people when they are given kindness that they don’t deserve.

1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” 3 “Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

Isaiah 54:4-5 Humble people don’t worry because they know God rules and is in charge.

4 Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

To be Humble like Jesus,

God Forms our Heart to be like Jesus’ Heart

Romans 8:29 God forms us to be like Christ.

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…

Since the single word that most describes Jesus’s heart in the Bible is humble, Humility must be the ultimate goal of every follower of Jesus. If we want to be like Christ, then we must not be proud, but be humble. Humility is the pinnacle of the Christian character because that is what it is to have a character like Christ’s character. Christ was perfectly holy too.

Humility is what all of the virtues are rooted in and the key to the joyful, fulfilling and abundant life in Christ. We hear sermons on how to not be depressed or how to not sin so much or three steps to peace and joy in your life, yet weirdly, in all my life, I have never heard a single sermon specifically on humility or on pride, much less a well deserved series on it. It is mentioned now and then, but not taught anywhere. The book, Humility, by the 1800’s theologian Andrew Murray, is one of the greats on humility and Charles Spurgeon preached many sermons on it too, who you’ll read several quotes from here. You can read his sermons on Spurgeon.org.

Deuteronomy 8:16-18 SO THAT we remember how much God loves us and that He is in charge.

16 He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper. 17 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” 18 But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.

Matthew 15:18-19 Our words and the actions flow from a humble or a prideful heart.

18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

James 3:10-17 If your heart is humble then fresh water will flow from your mouth all the time.

10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

A Servant’s Heart is a Humble Heart

because it is a Jesus Heart

Jesus didn’t just humble himself once. He stooped down to Earth and then started digging. God the Father placed Jesus into a typical low income family, but then it went downhill from there. He was born in a lowly animal shelter. Then the King of Glory humbled himself by submitting to the mom and dad that he created. He worked hard with his dad in carpentry, made breakfast for, served bread many times and washed the dirty feet of his followers. He was scorned by the religious leaders and accused of partnering with Satan. He was beaten, mocked and spit on, then finally humbled himself to die naked on a cross to die the most painful and humiliating death they knew how. He humbled himself in order to even serve the ones who despised him, whom he created and loved.

Jesus is, was and always will be a Humble Servant

Hebrew 13:8 Jesus has always had a humble heart and still does today.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Jesus didn’t start being a humble servant AFTER he got to Earth. It is WHO he was and WHO he always will be. Even though Jesus is now in Heaven, seated on the throne, in all his majesty and being worshipped and praised by everyone, he is still just as humble as ever and still has the same heart to serve. He humbled himself to take on the form of a servant. I bet he always gathered the wood and lit the fire and cleaned the fish and prepared food for his disciples. I’m sure he often washed their feet and usually cut up the bread and served them because that’s what people do who have the heart of a servant.

Luke 12:35-37 Jesus will wait on those who serve, when he returns.

35 Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 36 Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

Philippians 2:3-11 Obedience and thinking of others first are signs of humility, and God honors that.

Mark 10:45 Even the theme of the whole book of Mark is that Jesus is the humble servant of all.

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

It is who Jesus is at his core, in his heart. He is a servant so you couldn’t stop him. His heart determined his actions. If someone has a servant’s heart then service will just flow out of them. You can’t even stop them from serving people in little ways throughout the day because it is who they are at their core, in their heart.

Matthew 20:28 Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve.

25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

John 21:9-14 Jesus built a fire, got bread and fish and then cooked his disciples breakfast and served it to them.

9 When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”... 12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them… 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Mark 6:39-42 Jesus did the job of breaking up the bread instead of telling them to do it.

39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied,

Like 24:30 Jesus served his disciples bread instead of being served.

30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

John 13:4-17 Jesus washed his follower’s feet and then said they need to do it too.

4 So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”... 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT

If God puts a story or teaching in the Bible then it’s important. If He tells it twice, in different places, then it’s REALLY REALLY important. Not all of the 4 accounts of Jesus’s life (the Four Gospels) all have the same teachings, but God chose to include this one teaching in all 4 of them. That the Greatest in Heaven will be the Servants. PAY ATTENTION!!! This is REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY important.

Matthew 20:21-28 The greatest will be the servant

21 “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”... 25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 9:33-35 The greatest will be the servant

33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Luke 22:24-27 The greatest will be the servant

24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest…. 26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

John 23:10-13 The greatest will be the servant

10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:10-12 The greatest will be the servant

10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Galatians 5:13-14 The whole law is fulfilled when we serve eachother in love.

13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

THE MARKS OF A HUMBLE AND A PRIDEFUL CHURCH

I was listening to a non-Bible based marriage book the other day and the author said that Narcissism and Grandiosity (both forms of pride) are a huge problem in America and therefore in marriages. He said a lot of it started in the early 1970’s when personal trainers and SELF help books became super common. “You can do it. You’ve got what it takes. You are worth it. There are no losers. You’ve got to take care of your SELF first.” We clearly live in a SELF-centered (prideful) society. Today, people post pics of their SELF and just make statements. They don’t ask questions. So how could it NOT be a huge problem in the church, since churches are filled with society members?

One of the most important roles of the church is for those people with certain ministerial spiritual gifts, to equip other believers to go and do the ministry of reconciliation throughout the week. Those with these gifts teach and encourage believers to help non-believers to be reconciled to God by sharing the good message that Jesus paid for their sins, was buried and rose again and if you believe that with your whole heart, then you are a believer. If you are convinced of it.

Ephesians 4:11-12 These ministerial spiritual gifts are for the purpose of equipping the believers to go do ministry.

11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

If humility is directing all praise and honor and credit to God and thinking about the SELF of others more than we think about our own SELF, and pride is the opposite, then several things will mark a humble church and also a prideful SELF centered SELF help church.

EVANGELISM

If a church is full of humble people, then they will naturally really not want the lost around them to go to Hell because they have the others first humble heart of Jesus. They will naturally want to obey Jesus by sharing the good message (gospel) of what Jesus did, even though it may make their SELF feel uncomfortable to do so.

They won’t just talk about how nice God is and “it’s a relationship, not a religion” and that they can have peace and forgiveness, but they will actually tell the gospel of Jesus. This is it plain and simple: 1. That Jesus died to pay for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to pay for them. 2. He was buried. 3. On the third day he was raised to life. If you believe that with your whole heart, If you are counting on it, that what God did on the cross was good enough, then you are called a believer and all of your sins are forgiven.

Matthew 28:18-20 In all of the Book of Acts, as soon as a person believed in Jesus, they called them a “disciple”. Go therefore and make believers, baptize them and then teach them. It was not, “Go and make wholly devoted followers of Christ, then baptize them, then teach them some more.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Not just the pastor, but the members of a humble church, will daily or weekly share the good message about what Jesus did for us on the cross, and THEN bring them to church.

What is the gospel we are supposed to share with people?

There are several “gospels” - (literally “good messages”) in the New Testament. The gospel of the Kingdom of God, the gospel of God, the gospel of peace, the gospel of grace and the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are all the same thing. Believe in Jesus. Believe in God. Trust with your whole heart that what He says is true.

Proverbs 3:5-6 God has always wanted us to fully trust Him; to believe in Him, that whatever He says is true.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Now, the object of our belief is not that we are going to have more descendants than the stars we can count, like Abraham. Or that there is going to be a flood and we need to build and ark, like Noah. The good message of what Jesus did for us is the object of our belief. It’s the one the Apostle Paul shared so people would believe and get saved with. He defines it here.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 The gospel a.k.a. “The good message” of Jesus Christ is of FIRST IMPORTANCE.

1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as OF FIRST IMPORTANCE: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Did you get that? This message is “OF FIRST IMPORTANCE” that: 1. Jesus died to pay for our sins. 2. He was buried. 3. On the third day, he was raised from the dead. That’s it. And armed with that good message (gospel) of Jesus Christ, the new believers shared it with everyone who would listen and millions of people believed it. And the church immediately exploded with growth. Remember, 99% of people at the time were illiterate and they didn’t have John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, the Romans Road or any other New Testament scripture at the time to tell people, but they had this good news. the good message, about what Jesus did. They told it to people and if they believed it in their heart and trusted that it was true because God said it, then they became a disciple of Jesus a.k.a. a follower, a believer.

Acts 1:8 Witnesses just share what they witnessed. They just give their testimony. So just tell what Jesus did, i.e. “I swear this is true. Jesus died, was buried and rose again three days later, and it changed my life. It gave me peace and joy and fulfillment in life.”

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

They were simply witnesses that told about what they believed was true. They weren’t trying to convince or pry open people’s hearts. That’s God’s job. It’s a lot of work to pick fruit that isn’t ripe. They just shared the good message about what Jesus did.

Witnesses don’t get up on the witness stand in court and say, “Hello judge and jury, Today, I’m going to try to convince and persuade you that this man is innocent”. No, a witness just tells what they know is true. “Hello, judge and jury. Today, I’m going to tell you the facts that I experienced and my testimony.” It is good to study more about what we believe so we can give an answer to people when they ask, but not necessary to convince them of anything when sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is God’s job to open their hearts and help them believe. It’s our job to just witness to them about what happened.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Our #1 main ministry is to help people be reconciled to God and we do that by telling them the good message of Jesus so they can believe it and so be reconciled.

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:14 Our job is to tell people the gospel.

14 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach (tell or proclaim)?

Really prideful people in SELF help prideful churches don’t evangelize because it makes their SELF feel uncomfortable because they are embarrassed or they don’t want their SELF to be rejected or mocked or laughed at and they feel that the comfort of their SELF is more important than the souls of the lost. They also don’t care that they are not obeying Jesus by sharing the good message (gospel) of Jesus that we are commanded to share. “Don’t we pay the pastor to give us book reports and share the gospel with our friends?” Heaven forbid we damage someone’s SELF by telling them that they’re in a burning building or on the wrong road that has an unexpected bridge out.

Mark 8:38 I don’t know exactly what Jesus means when he says he will “be ashamed”, but I’d rather not find out.

38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.

The fairly prideful people casually talk about the benefits of being a believer because that’s not so uncomfortable. “You get to go to Heaven. All your sins get forgiven. Peace, joy, love in your life. It’s a relationship not a religion”, but they won’t share the actual good message (gospel) of Jesus Christ.

Prideful churches share this message instead, “Here are all of the things you can get out of God for your SELF if you accept Christ today and ask him into your heart (whatever that means). YOU can be happier. You can go to Heaven. No more guilt. All your sins forgiven. It’s a relationship not a religion. YOU can be healthy and wealthy. YOU can get peace, even in storms. And joy too. YOU can have a healthy community. Today can be the first day of the rest of your life. I’ll see you at the top. Let go and let God”. And then, once they say some prayer that includes all of the benefits of being a believer, they give them a high five and go about their day.

We have to give them something to believe in. If we believe with our whole heart the gospel of Jesus Christ, that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, that he was buried in a tomb and that on the third day, he was raised alive from the dead, then they will be saved. Leave the convincing up to God.

Romans 10:14-15 Our job is to repeat the good message (gospel of Jesus Christ) to people. It’s up to God whether or not they believe it in their heart and be saved.

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Evangelism Tip: If someone asks you a hard question like, “What about the man in the jungle?” Or “Why would a loving God allow good people to suffer?”, then you reply to them. “That’s a great question. Next week, can I show you a video of a guy who explains that way better than I ever could?” Chances are, they aren’t really interested in the answer because God hasn’t opened their heart yet. So you start praying that God opens their heart so they can believe.

John 6:44

44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Too Plain and Simple?

As Charles Spurgeon so eloquently put it, “Humble souls love a plain gospel. I know what some are: they read a book which contains the gospel, and because it is very simple, they say, “This will do for my servant-girl, or for the labourer in my field”; but for themselves they seek something more hard to understand, and consequently more flattering to their pride. Many people like a preacher who can confound the gospel for them: plain speech offends them. We are overdone with such folk in this generation. Certain people, when they hear what they cannot comprehend, say fervently, “What a wonderful discourse! I delight in a man of culture, who raises the tone of preaching above what the lower classes can understand.” Fools that they are to talk so! The plainer the Word, the more likely it is to be the word of God. Did not Paul say, “Seeing we have received this ministry, we use great plainness of speech”? The gospel is not sent into the world for the elite, for the few choice souls that read the reviews. The gospel is sent into the world for “every creature”; and if it be meant for “every creature,” it must be made so plain that even non-readers may be able to comprehend it, and persons with the slenderest education, or none at all, may be able to grasp it. You, learned sir, may like a highly-finished gospel, which only a half-dozen gentlemen like yourself can comprehend; but I like the common salvation, the good news for the crowd, the writing which he that runneth can read. Does not your candour and humanity admit that it is well that the gospel should be simple enough for the poor and the illiterate, since they need salvation as well as the educated? I would to God that a sense of unworthiness brought us all down from those pinnacles of the temple of vanity, where we stand in mutual admiration, but in awful danger of a fall. Oh, that the heavenly wisdom would make us willing to be saved like commonplace sinners, willing for Christ not to come to our house, but to give the word of command by which the miracle of grace would be wrought!”

WELCOMING

Warm and welcoming churches are that way because they are full of people who are like Christ, who deeply care about the SELF of visitors more than their own SELF. They are genuinely interested in the SELF of others. They ask questions of people they don’t know and try to get them plugged in to go deeper with God and be in community.

Hebrews 13:1-2 Brotherly love is welcome strangers so they feel welcome.

1 Continue in brotherly love. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Matthew 25:33-45 When we look past what makes our SELF feel nice and work to make the SELf of others feel good then Jesus sees it as if we are doing or not doing those things to his own SELF.

33 He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ 44 And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

Leviticus 19:34 Love the SELF of strangers like you love your own SELF.

34 You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as your SELF, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 If you want to be like Christ, then love strangers like he does. Don’t forget that you were visitors one time and someone welcomed you.

17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. 19 So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Luke 6:31-33 Do for the SELF of others as you would want them to do for your SELF. If you just greet friends and do the easy thing, do you think God will be proud of you?

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.

Image Management or Just a Humble Heart?

Prideful people in churches hold the door for people and say “good morning” to visitors, but that’s it. They don’t care that the woman who just walked through the door thought she’d give church one more try before she commits suicide. Or the visiting couple decided to give church a shot before they finalize the divorce. One of the greeters at my own church “welcomes” visitors at the door so he can tell them all about his SELF and about the success of his kids.

The prideful person’s church is mainly for making their SELF feel good; to see their friends, sing nice songs, to do their good christian service and hear a nice message. Humility is to be genuinely interested in the SELF of others more than the SELF of me. “I completed my duty and I feel good about my SELF even though I couldn’t have a lower level of care for the visitor (couldn’t care less)”. Welcoming strangers isn’t just for the greeting team. It is for EVERY believer.

Ask Consecutive Connected Questions

Pro Tip 1: Practice asking 5 CONNECTED questions.

Example 1 “Hi, I’m Dave. What’s your name? Nice to meet you. How long have you been coming here? Oh, it’s your first time. How did you hear about the church? Interesting. Why did you move here? Wow, that’s cool. How did you get involved in that kind of work?”

Example 2 “Well those are some good looking shoes. Is that your favorite pair? Interesting. Are you a shoe guy? Cool. What draws you to shoes? Wow. I’ve never thought of that. What do shoes say about people? That’s fascinating. Why did you pick those shoes for today?”

Pro Tip 2: Before they go in, ask if there’s anything you can pray for them about.

Pro Tip 3: Share the gospel very briefly. Here’s how I do it.

“Just a little bit about this church before you go in. You’re doing to hear the good message of what Jesus did for us in the songs and in the teachings. We call it the gospel. That’s what we believe opens the door to starting a deeper personal relationship with our creator. That Jesus paid for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to pay for them. Then they buried him in a tomb and on the third day, he rose again. That’s what we call the gospel. The good message about what Jesus did. And if we believe it with our whole heart, then we are a believer. If we trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, then that starts the new life in Jesus.”

Isaiah 58:1-7 God desires a humble other people focused heart that desires to care for the SELF of the stranger and the needy, not one that you have to talk into it. He does not listen to prayers when the heart is SELF focused, even though there is godly action taking place.

1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” 3 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. 4 You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. 5 Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? 7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

SINGING

It would be super cool if either of my kids asked if they could sing me a song. And then they sang a song about me being a good father or about something they were thankful for me for. But it would be kind of weird if they went on to sing a song about what a great child they are.

People with a humble, God focused heart naturally desire to praise and thank God for the things He has done and they worship Him for who He is. It brings them joy to sing those songs because they are making God everything and their SELF nothing. If there were a music video filmed of the song they are singing, the camera would be on God almost the whole time. God would be the center and focus of it all. By the way, just because a song is in the Bible or on the Christian radio doesn’t mean that it’s praise and worship. It might be a great song of a prayer or of repentance or “break the teeth of my enemy”, but that is not praising or worshiping God. Also, I’m of the opinion that we should sing songs directly to God rather that just songs impersonally about God. Would you want your kids to sing a song to you or about you?

One could argue that walking the dog, eating lunch and working on the car are all forms of worship, but we’re talking about singing right now.

People with a SELF centered (prideful) heart naturally desire to sing about their own SELF because that brings them more joy than singing to God about who He is (worshipping Him and being amazed and grateful for what He has done (praising Him). So the songs will generally be about how “I exalt thee” and how I am worshiping with all of my heart and how I feel so good and how I was a nobody before etc. The worship song video would be all about the worshipper, with God sprinkled in here and there. Meanwhile, God is up there tapping His fingers on the armrest of his throne wondering when He gets a song.

PRAYER

Humble people depend on God and so a church full of humble people will be marked by A LOT of prayer. People will know that if you need prayer, you go to that church. They’ll have an active prayer network and chain. They’ll also talk to God in public the same way they talk to God in private. Real authentic genuine prayers. Prayer, humility and fasting are strongly tied together, which is shown clearly in Scripture a little later on.

Prideful churches are full of people who rely on their SELF and so don’t see the need for much prayer. The prideful church will pray because it is seen as a good thing and the duty of a Christian, but not a deep need. They usually pray differently in public than they do in private. I wonder why that would be? I tell people, if you’re going to talk to me then talk me and if you’re going to talk God then talk to God, but don’t talk to me with little sermonettes when you’re supposed to be talking to God. Talk to me or talk to God, but don’t do both at the same time. That’s fake. Get this; I went to my sister’s church one time and the guy who closed out the service gave the week’s schedule in his prayer and ended with “And on Friday at 7 o’clock, at the women’s gathering, with childcare provided, please be with them”. I had to swallow the vomit in my mouth when I heard that.

Luke 20:46-47 Don’t do or say things for the purpose of people honoring you and praising you for being spiritual.

46 “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Matthew 6:5-12 Pray sincerely to God as if you were alone. It’s okay to pray in public, but do it the same way you would if you were alone.

5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

TEACHING

Remember, humble is God first, Me second. Pride is Me first, God second. Humble teaching magnifies God (makes Him bigger and clearer so we can know Him better). It explains to us who God truly is, what He’s like and and what He’s done for us. The more we learn about God’s love for us, the more we desire to humble our SELF, and serve Him by loving and serving others. God centered teaching helps us grow in our faith. It helps us to become less so He can become more in our lives.

Prideful SELF churches give SELF help pep talks. “Here’s how YOU can be a better Christian. How YOU can be happier, How YOU can have more power. How YOU can be greater. “The title of today’s sermon is POWER. P for Plead, O for Optimism, W for Weep, E for Earn and R for Reward. Five steps to getting more out of the Holy Spirit for your SELF to be more impressive and to be more honored by man.

No wonder statistics say that 85% of youth, who grow up in church, stop going when they leave home. Who wants fake in their life? That same prideful spirit is the same spirit that Jesus fought against. This 85% statistic aligns with the fact that I’ve never once heard a sermon about Pride or Humility in church. That makes me think that either people don’t think it’s all that big of a deal or they don’t have a very good understanding of what those words mean.

But, 15% of youth do continue going to church, which makes me think they were going to healthy authentic churches where they were taught what God was like and taught how to be like Christ. You know… humble churches. If those 85% knew what God was really like, they wouldn’t be able to get enough of Him.

You can’t go wrong leading or being in a church that is focused on knowing and magnifying God through sermons and songs. When you get up to Heaven, I doubt God is going to wag His gigantic finger in your face and say, “What were you thinking? Why did you focus on ME the whole time down there in your church? Why didn’t you focus on making people feel good about their SELFs”. If you’re going to err, err on the side of humility.

BENEFITS OF A HUMBLE HEART

Let’s start with what God says in the Bible about the Benefits of a Humble Heart, which is being someone who truly desires to be Humble and who it bothers when they act Pridefully. A lot of people wonder why nothing good ever happens to them. Where is this wonderful Christian life I read about on the brochure? Well, it’s waiting for them if they will desire and strive for a Humble Heart.

PROSPERITY

Psalm 37:11

11 But the humble will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

Proverbs 22:4

4 The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.

2 Chronicles 32:25-30 He was proud and then he humbled his heart and life changed.

25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah. 27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles. 28 He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks. 29 He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth. 30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon and channeled it down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.

Isaiah 61:1-7 The humble will be honored and filled with joy, blessings and excessive portions.

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, 3 to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. 6 But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their riches. 7 Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Proverbs 14:24 The result of humility/wisdom is wealth, but all the proud get are dumb memories.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.

FAVOR

Proverbs 3:34 God shows favor to the humble.

34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.

Jeremiah 26:19 Hezekiah humbled himself and pleaded with God and God listened to his prayers.

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

HONOR

Proverbs 29:23 The proud get dishonor and the humble get honor.

23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 18:10-12 Honor comes from humility, but destruction comes from a proud heart.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. 12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Luke 14:7-11 God promotes those with a humble, others first, approach and humbles those who promote their SELF.

7 When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited. 9 Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Samuel 2:4-10 God humbles and exalts who He chooses.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength. 5 The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away. 6 The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world. 9 He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail. 10 Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Daniel 2:45-48 When God uses the humble and He gets glory. The ungodly become humble and the humble are honored.

45 And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.” 46 At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

Matthew 18:1-4 The more humble a person is (the more like Jesus), the greater they are in God’s kingdom.

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 2:4-10 Self-ish ones (the proud) live for their own SELF and get pain. SELF-less ones (the humble) live for God and get honor.

4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” 7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are SELF-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek.

WISDOM

Proverbs 8:11-16 Humility (wisdom) is how successful kings rule and is the opposite of pride.

11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. 12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. 14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; 16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

Proverbs 11:2 Pride brings dishonor, Humility brings wisdom.

2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 A humble person’s heart naturally moves them towards goodness.

2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. 3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

Genesis 41:37-40 God’s Spirit makes one wise.

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

SAFETY AND PROTECTION

Psalm 40:1-4 A GREAT U2 song. God restores the proud and sets them in a good place.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

2 Samuel 22:28 God saves the humble but humbles the proud.

28 You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

Job 5:7-11 God protects the humble and lowly.

7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. 8 However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him— 9 the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. 10 He gives rain to the earth and sends water upon the fields. 11 He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.

Psalm 138:3-6 God protects the humble and humbles the proud.

3 On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. 5 They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. 6 Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

Job 22:29 God saves humble people.

29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the humble.

Job 33:14-18 God warns and scares people so that they will live humbly and rightly.

14 For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. 15 In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, 16 He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings 17 to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, 18 to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

CLOSENESS WITH GOD

Isaiah 57:15 God is very close with those of a humble spirit and a remorseful and repentant heart.

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

GOD TEACHES HIS WAY TO BE HUMBLE

Psalm 25:4-5, 9-11 Ask God to teach you His ways because he leads and teaches the humble. Be sure to confess sin.

4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.

9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. 10 All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees. 11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

Job 36:5-11 God only teaches how to follow and serve Him, to those who are humble enough.

5 Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted. 7 He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. 8 And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, 9 then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. 10 He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

Proverbs 15:33 Humble yourself and God will teach you wisdom and honor you.

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 17:10 A humble person is easily put back on the straight and easy path.

10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

ANSWERED PRAYERS

Psalm 10:17-18 The prayer of the humble is not ignored by God.

17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear, 18 to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.

2 Kings 22:18-20 God answers prayers of humble people.

18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, 19 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its people, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD. 20 ‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15 God sends hard times so we humble ourselves by turning from our sin and seeking Him, then He listens to our prayers.

13 If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, 14 and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

Daniel 10:2-13 At the moment we set our hearts for and desire humility, God hears our prayers and sends help.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3 I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.

7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. 9 I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. 10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12 “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

2 Chronicles 33:10-13 Great humbling moves God to answer prayers.

10 And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen. 11 So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. 12 And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. 13 And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

2 Chronicles 34:1-3, 26-27 When God sees a humble heart, he answers prayer.

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.

26 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard, 27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

2 Chronicles 12:1-12 The princes of Israel and King Rehoboam humbled themselves and so God granted them deliverance and peace.

1 After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD. 2 In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem 3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. 4 He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. 5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’” 6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.” 7 When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but will soon grant them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.

12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, and He did not destroy him completely. Indeed, conditions were good in Judah.

ANSWERED PRAYERS BY FASTING

In the Bible, there are a lot of invisible things inside a person that you can’t see, like Belief, Faith, Love and Humility. The cool thing is that there are physical things we can see with our eyes in the person’s life that often tell if those things are on the inside or not. For example, if someone says they have true and genuine Faith, that they’re counting on that whatever God says is true, then we will see good works in their life. If they say they have Belief then we will see them get baptized. If someone says they have Love then we will see actions to back that up.

Something you’ll notice here is that Fasting is usually an outward expression of Humility on the inside, but not always. It is easy to SAY we need Him, even if we don’t mean it, but fasting SHOWS our utter and total dependence on God because fasting is really hard; it is saying that we are helpless and that He is our only hope because we’ve tried everything else. That is where God wants us. It’s not a hunger strike to get God to give us something.

I’ve heard A LOT of stories about prayer with fasting that result in answered prayer, but this one is cool. I was talking with a major league baseball player, who is a believer, and he was having the worst year of his career. He went from one of the best players on the team to one of the worst for almost the entire season. He had tried everything to get out of his season long slump and he was desperate. I suggested he consider fasting and praying, but he wasn’t excited about the idea. Another sucky week went by and talk started up of trading him. He was at the end of his SELF.

All of a sudden, he had the best game of the season going 3 for 5 with 2 homeruns. After the game, he said with a huge smile, “I fasted and prayed today”. For the rest of the season, he was basically back on track. Later, I was talking with the spiritual father of the team and he told me that this player was deeply impacted by God’s hand in his life and he was growing tremendously because of the fasting. I don’t know what that story means, but I’m just telling you what happened. God meets us where we’re at.

FEED YOUR ORGANS WHEN FASTING LONG - *If you do a long fast, like 40 days, then be sure to drink water with lemon juice and grade B maple syrup so you don’t damage organs.

PRAY THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHEN FASTING - A friend of mine suggested that when fasting, think about what you are hungering for and need God to pull through for you and then when you have a hunger pain or think about eating, pray “God, I hunger for this and that…”. You’ll end up praying a lot throughout the day.

READ THE WORD WHEN FASTING - Be sure to read the Bible while you’re fasting because you should expect God to speak to you through His Word.

Here are some verses that connect humbling and fasting and God answering prayer. Maybe it is just a coincidence that Humbling and Fasting are seen together so many times when asking God for things. God even commands people to fast. There must be something to it. Did you know that over 13% of this book, full of scripture about pride and humility, is centered around fasting?

Joel 1:1-14 God COMMANDS them to fast.

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel:... 4 What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten… 10 The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails… 13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.

FASTING FOR MINISTRY

Matthew 4:1-4 Jesus fasted to prepare himself to be tempted by Satan and to start his public ministry.
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Acts 13:1-3 While they were fasting, the Holy Spirit helped them with the decision and told them what to do.

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 14:21-23 After having prayed with fasting, Paul and Barnabas made the decisions to appoint elders in every church.

21 They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE FASTING AND PRAYER

Ezra 8:21-23, 31 Ezra proclaimed a fast to humble themselves so God would help them with a safe journey.

21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.

31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way.

Jonah 3:1-10 The people of Ninevah and the king declared a fast and everyone called on God INTENSELY.

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” 3 This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey. 4 On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!” 5 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. 6 When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. 8 Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.

1 Kings 21:1, 24-28 God saw how Ahab humbled himself with fasting and so decided to stop the coming disaster on him.

1 Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

24 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.” 25 (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. 26 He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.) 27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

Daniel 6:1-28 King Darius fasted for Daniel in the lion’s den because he couldn’t save any though he tried.

5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! 7 All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.” 13 Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him. 15 Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.” 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 25 Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound. 26 I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. 27 He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

1 Samuel 31:11-13 IMPORTANT: Second time this story is told in the Bible so it must be really really important.

11 When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

1 Kings 21:27-29 The bad king humbled himself with fasting and God honored that.

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

HUMBLING + FASTING = ANSWERS

ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ASK FOR

Ephesians 3:20-21 God loves to go above and beyond what we pray for, especially when accompanied with fasting.

20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 1:1-20 Is humbly fasting and prayer a key to infertility? Hannah wasn’t eating at the feast and left to pray intensely. The priest told her she would have a son and so she went and ate. She bore one of the greatest men of God in all of history.

1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD. 4 And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her. 7 And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat. 8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” 12 As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!” 15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman, for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.” 17 “Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.” 18 “May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began to eat, and her face was no longer downcast. 19 The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

Esther 4:1-17 Fasting was the first go to for them before death.

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate. 3 In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai, 11 “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.” 12 When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai, 13 he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!” 17 So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

Esther 5:1-3 God often answers AND blesses BEYOND what we pray for when we humble ourselves, up to half the kingdom for Esther as a bonus.

1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance. 2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

Ephesians 3:14-20 The more we understand his deep love for us, the more we want to serve him by serving others. God often does and gives abundantly more than we pray for because he likes to.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

2 Chronicles 20:1-29 King Jehoshephat called for a fast and God answered their prayers AND blessed them with riches and peace as a bonus.

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). 3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. 4 So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. 7 Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? 8 They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ 10 And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 13 Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD. 14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. 16 Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’” 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him. 19 And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice. 20 Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” 22 The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets. 29 And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.

Matthew 6:16-21 Fasting should NOT be done SO THAT people think you are spiritual and honor you, but so that God will notice you and reward you. Fasting is tied to our heart and it is one way we store up treasures in Heaven.

16 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces TO SHOW men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 SO THAT your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

EFFECTIVE FASTING

WITH CONFESSION AND A CHANGE OF HEART TO HUMBLE

Psalm 69:1-32 When David wrote this, he had already been humbled for raping Bathesheba and murdering her husband. Now he is fasting after humbling himself.

1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. 2 I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me. 5 You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You. 10 I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach. 13 But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. 15 Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion. 17 Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly! 32 The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived! 33 For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.

Psalm 109:21-27 David humbled himself with fasting and confession of sin, and asked God to save him.

21 But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name; deliver me by the goodness of Your loving devotion. 24 My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt. 26 Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion. 27 Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it.

Daniel 9:3-23 As soon as God saw fasting with confession of sin, he answered.

3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land. 7 To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8 O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

14 Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice.

15 Now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and who made for Yourself a name renowned to this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly. 16 O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us. 17 So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. 18 Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.” 20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain— 21 while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:\

Ezra 10:1-6 Ezra fasted for others’s sin to demonstrate to God his remorseful and penitent heart.

1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel. 3 So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!” 5 So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

Nehemiah 1:1-11 Nehemiah mourns and confesses the sin of the Jews who didn’t go into captivity and then asks for God’s help.

1 These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ 10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. 11 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

Joel 2:1-3, 12-16 God tells Israel to fast and return with all their heart, and not only will he NOT discipline, but he will bless above and beyond.

1 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. 3 Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them.

12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” 13 So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God. 15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

INEFFECTIVE FASTING IS WITHOUT A HUMBLE HEART

People go through the action of fasting without truly humbling their heart, treating God like a genie in a bottle, hoping He will grant their every wish through by tricking Him with the appearance of humility, it just ends up being nothing more than a tough weight loss program.

Psalm 35:13 David’s heart was still prideful, but he knew there was a connection between fasting and answered prayer.

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

2 Samuel 12:13-23 King David fasted for God to act, but without confessing his prideful sins or humbling his heart. His baby died, so he ended the fast.

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.” 15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.” 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. 20 Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate. 21 “What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.” 22 David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Jeremiah 14:10-12 God usually pays attention to fasting, but not this time because they sin and wander away from Him.

10 This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins.” 11 Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”

Isaiah 58:1-7 God desires a humble other people focused heart. He does not listen to prayers during fasting when the heart is wrong.

1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” 3 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. 4 You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. 5 Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? 7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD

These verses do not just pertain to the evil and oppressive dictators of third world countries. These verses apply to the pastors, Sunday school teachers, electricians, homeschool moms, CEOs, dishwashers and the Senators among us who care more about their own SELF feeling or looking good and getting honored by man than the SELF of the others around them.

Proverbs 16:5 God punishes those with a proud heart.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will get him humbled.

23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 15:25 The empires of the proud don’t last.

25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

2 Kings 19:1-3 God humbles through hard times.

1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD… 3 to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.

Jeremiah 23:39-40 Being humbled forever will be tough.

39 therefore I will surely forget you and will cast you out of My presence, both you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. 40 And I will bring upon you everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten.”

Zechariah 10:11 God will humble the powerful one’s proud hearts and make them into nobodys.

11 They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.

Habakkuk 2:4-5 The righteous one who lives by faith is contrasted against the arrogant prideful one. “Righteous will live by faith” is key verse of the Bible.

4 Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH— 5 and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Proverbs 14:3 Prideful fools have a lot of pain coming.

3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Daniel 4:36-37 God humbles the proud and blesses and restores them when their heart is truly humble.

36 At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Zechariah 10:10-12 God safely guides and clears the path for the humble while humbling the proud.

10 I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon until no more room is found for them. 11 They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart. 12 I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk,” declares the LORD.

Malachi 4:1-3 One day God will thoroughly destroy all who do not honor Him because of their pride.

1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.” 2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. 3 Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Luke 1:46-54 God hates deep rooted prideful thoughts, not just the self centered actions that result from a proud heart.

46 Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,

Isaiah 2:8-17 Everyone who refuses to submit to God will be humbled and also what they take pride in.

8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. 9 So mankind is brought low, and man is humbled—do not forgive them! 10 Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty. 11 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled— 13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, 14 against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills, 15 against every high tower, against every fortified wall, 16 against every ship of Tarshish, and against every stately vessel. 17 So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

Ecclesiastes 10:4-7 It’s not fair, but sometimes prideful people get promoted and the humble wise aren’t appreciated.

4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest. 5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler: 6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in humble positions. 7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

2 Corinthians 12:19-21 It is humbling to learn our spiritual children have become very prideful.

19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up. 20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 Men filled with pride have depraved minds and live sinful lives.

1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, 4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! 6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Zephaniah 3:11-17 When God removes the prideful, the humble have peace.

11 On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. 12 But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.”... 15 The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm… 17 The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

PRIDE OF POWER

Romans 11:17-20 Be humble because you are who you are because God made it happen, not you. Revere God.

17 Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

Leviticus 26:14-20 The pride of power is what causes people to reject God’s power in their lives and get humbled.

14 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, 15 and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you. 18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze, 20 and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.

2 Chronicles 26:3-21 Continually seek God and give Him credit for our success or our pride will get us humbled.

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success. 6 Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had become exceedingly powerful. 9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them. 10 Since he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields. 11 Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers. 12 The total number of family leaders of the mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13 Under their authority was an army of 307,500 trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14 Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones. 15 And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shoot arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously until he became powerful. 16 But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him. 18 They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” 19 Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. 21 So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land.

Isaiah 10:12-15 In His time, God punishes the proud for taking credit for what God did.

12 So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. 13 For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. 14 My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’” 15 Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!

Daniel 4:18-30 The proud refuse to publicly recognize that God is the one who makes their success happen.

18 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes. 26 As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.” 28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Isaiah 25:1-12 God lets people and nations be prideful and powerful only for a time before he humbles them and makes everything right.

1 O LORD, You are my God! I will exalt You; I will praise Your name. For You have worked wonders—plans formed long ago—in perfect faithfulness. 2 Indeed, You have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified town a ruin. The fortress of strangers is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore, a strong people will honor You. The cities of ruthless nations will revere You. 4 For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall, 5 like heat in a dry land. You subdue the uproar of foreigners. As the shade of a cloud cools the heat, so the song of the ruthless is silenced. 6 On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine. 7 On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken. 9 And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” 10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. But Moab will be trampled in his place as straw is trodden into the dung pile. 11 He will spread out his hands within it, as a swimmer spreads his arms to swim. His pride will be brought low, despite the skill of his hands. 12 The high-walled fortress will be brought down, cast to the ground, into the dust.

Ezekiel 24:15-24 Pride causes us to sin and be crushed harshly SO THAT we turn back to God.

15 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. 17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded. 19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?” 20 So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: 21 Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’ 22 Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners. 23 Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves. 24 ‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’

Ezekiel 30:5-19 Those who hang out with, or support, pride filled people will also be humbled and suffer with them.

5 Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword. 6 For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will collapse. From Migdol to Syene they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD… 18 The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity. 19 So I will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

Ezekiel 33:27-29 No one can hide from God’s humbling SO THAT everyone will turn back to God.

27 Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, those in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I will give to be devoured by wild animals, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague. 28 I will make the land a desolate waste, and the pride of her strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, so that no one will pass through. 29 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the abominations they have committed.’

Hosea 5:4-15 God withdraws Himself when people are arrogant.

4 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD. 5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them. 6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them. 7 They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land… 14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them. 15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

PRIDE OF SELF RELIANCE

Hosea 13:6 When needs are satisfied, our hearts become proud and we tend to forget God or don’t rely on Him much.

6 When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.

2 Chronicles 32:5-31 Thank God for all success so our heart doesn’t grow prideful and get humbled by God.

5 Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields. 6 Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 9 Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem: 10 “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?

20 In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer, 21 and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword. 22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hands of King Sennacherib of Assyria and all others, and He gave them rest on every side. 23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations. 24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah. 27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles. 28 He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks. 29 He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth. 30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon and channeled it down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did. 31 And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

Job 15:20-25 Proud people live in fear because they rely on their own self and are arrogant against God.

20 A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless. 21 Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him. 22 He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword. 23 He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. 24 Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack. 25 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,

Job 35:12-13 God answers the prayers of the humble but not of the prideful.

12 There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

Hosea 7:8-10 The proud do not notice the depth of their pride but everybody else does.

8 Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake. 9 Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know. 10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.

Exodus 15:1-18 Moses, the most humble man on Earth, recognizes God is in complete control and the reason for any success.

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea; the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; they sank there like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy. 7 You overthrew Your adversaries by Your great majesty. You unleashed Your burning wrath; it consumed them like stubble. 8 At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ 10 But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them up. 13 With loving devotion You will lead the people You have redeemed; with Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia. 15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, 16 and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance—the place, O LORD, You have prepared for Your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, Your hands have established. 18 The LORD will reign forever and ever!”

Judges 6:36-40 God fights our battles for us and works with people of little faith to grow their faith and dependence on Him.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, 37 then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew.” 40 And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.

Judges 7:1-25

1 Early in the morning Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained. 4 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 5 So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped the water with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink. 7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and rams’ horns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up and go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp. 12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.” 15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch. 17 “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” 19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” 21 Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. 22 And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath. 23 Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah. 25 They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.

2 Chronicles 25:1-22 Pride from success causes people to refuse to fully submit to God or take His advice.

1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

7 But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites. 8 Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”

14 When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet, who said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?” 16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

19 You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?” 20 But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Jehoash king of Israel advanced, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 22 And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his own home.

LACK OF SUBMISSION

Nehemiah 9:9-29 Regularly remember God is the only reason for goodness and success or we will return to our pride.

9 You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. 10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters. 12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. 15 In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them. 18 Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies, 19 You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. 20 You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. 22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess. 27 So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies. 28 But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your compassion. 29 You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.

Jeremiah 13:8-11 Humble yourself before God painfully humbles you and your prideful heart.

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9 “This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all. 11 For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, SO THAT they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.

16 Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness. 17 But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.” 19 The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.

Jeremiah 43:1-7 Prideful people do not listen to godly men or rely on God because they think they know better.

1 When Jeremiah had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—everything that the LORD had sent him to say— 2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’ 3 Rather, Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that they may put us to death or exile us to Babylon!” 4 So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces disobeyed the command of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah. 5 Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the whole remnant of Judah, those who had returned to the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been scattered, 6 the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had allowed to remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as well as Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah. 7 So they entered the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, and they went as far as Tahpanhes.

1 Peter 5:1-6 Believers need to be humble and therefore submit to elders and elders, lead in humility.

1 As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

PRIDE OF SUPERIORITY

Proverbs 21:24 One's pride is revealed by their cocky actions.

24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.

Luke 18:9-14 Thinking more highly of ourselves is pride.

9 To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Corinthians 4:6-21 Pride makes one feel superior and we forget that God gave us all things.

6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?... 18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Zephaniah 2:12-15 The proud believe they are better than everybody and uniquely special because of something they did themselves.

12 “You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.” 13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.

15 This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

Romans 12:16-18 Pride says you are superior to others, but instead do these things.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Isaiah 9:8-11 Prideful hearts have superior enemies that God provokes against them.

8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel. 9 All the people will know it—Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say: 10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” 11 The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together.

PRIDE OF WEALTH, SUCCESS AND TALENT

Jeremiah 22:21-22 Rebellious and sinful living brings shame and humiliation.

21 I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your way from your youth that you have not obeyed My voice. 22 The wind will sweep away all your shepherds and your lovers will go into captivity; then you will certainly be ashamed and humiliated because of all your wickedness.

Proverbs 21:20 The humble wise keep nice things, but prideful fools are wasteful.

20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 The proud are focused on their self and not the self of others.

17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, 19 treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 John 2:15-17 The “world” are things that make us prideful so our self feels good, but they draw us away from the things of God.

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Isaiah 13:17-19 Sometimes God humbles the proud harshly.

17 Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. 18 Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children. 19 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 28:1-10 Our success creates a proud heart which makes us believe lies about the greatness of our self and we forget that God is the reason.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god. 3 Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! 4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries. 5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it. 6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you regard your heart as the heart of a god, 7 behold, I will bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and will defile your splendor. 8 They will bring you down to the Pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas. 9 Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who slay you? You will be only a man, not a god, in the hands of those who wound you. 10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. For I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.”

Isaiah 14:9-14 Talent can cause powerful pride (This passage is about Lucifer).

9 Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones. 10 They will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!” 11 Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket. 12 How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. 13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Isaiah 23:1-10 To destroy the pride of all beauty is to humble those men who see it as important and worthy of honor.

1 This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. 2 Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. 3 On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations. 4 Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women.” 5 When the report reaches Egypt, they will writhe in agony over the news of Tyre. 6 Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland! 7 Is this your jubilant city, whose origin is from antiquity, whose feet have taken her to settle far away? 8 Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth? 9 The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth. 10 Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor.

James 1:1-12 Be excited God tests and humbles you with hard times because by persevering the humbling it brings wisdom.

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Psalm 73:1-7 Don’t envy the prideful who are rich and who seem to have the good life.

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. 5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them. 7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

Zechariah 11:4-6 God removes his hand of protection from the greedy compassionless self-serving proud ones.

4 This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter,

5 whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them.

6 For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.”

PRIDE OF BEAUTY

Isaiah 3:16-18 The prideful will be stripped of their beauty and become ugly.

16 The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles— 17 the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” 18 In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;

Ezekiel 28:11-17 The heart of beautiful people becomes prideful and their wisdom is corrupted (This passage is also about Lucifer).

11 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, take up a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for I had ordained you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you. 16 By the vastness of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and I banished you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart grew proud of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor; so I cast you to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings.

PRIDE OF SPIRITUALITY

When Jesus says something one time, then it’s really really important. When he says it three times in the Bible, then listen more carefully. It’s really really really important.

Matthew 6:5-6 Spiritual behavior that is done SO THAT people will praise our self is prideful.

5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 23:1-12 When we act humbly SO THAT we are honored by men, God will dishonor and humble us.

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: 2 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed. 8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 20:45-47 Sounding, acting or looking spiritual SO THAT people praise our self for being spiritually minded is prideful.

45 In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

PRIDE OF INTELLIGENCE

Unteachable, know it alls have prideful hearts because they believe their thinking is superior to everyone else or they don’t want to hear the truth because it would mean they have to change their lifestyle.

REMINDER - WATCH FOR THIS THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE

King David uses synonyms in parallel sentences to get ideas across.

The poet uses interchangeable words in couplets to teach.

Proud is used interchangeably with the word Fool.

Humble is used interchangeably with the word Wise.

Proverbs 18:12-13 A proud heart thinks they already know the answer.

12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. 13 He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 Even children who are teachable are considered humble and wise.

13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 The more intelligent a person gets, the more prideful they become.

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the one who loves God is known by God.

Mark 7:18-23 Prideful actions come from a prideful heart.

18 “Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) 20 He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. 21 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. 23 All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Psalm 131:1 A humble man is content being involved in simple matters that he can handle.

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.

Proverbs 12:15-23 Humble people listen and learn, but the proud are fools.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult… 23 A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.

Proverbs 10:1-23 Wise is the same as humble and fool is the same as prideful.

1 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother… 8 A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin… 14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction… 23 The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

Proverbs 13:16-20 When humble people walk with the wise, they learn to be wise.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly… 20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Proverbs 14:16 The humble wise thinks through situations, but proud fools rush in.

16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and arrogant.

Proverbs 14:33 Proud fools show everyone that they don’t understand.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.

1 Timothy 6:3-6 Those who want to argue about solid Bible teaching have too much pride.

3 If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. 6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

Proverbs 15:2-14 The humble wise seek and teach knowledge, but proud fools just talk nonsense.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly… 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools… 14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Proverbs 15:20-21 Wise humble children walk rightly and make parents proud, but proud fools embarrass them.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

Proverbs 17:24 Humble people think about things, but the proud don’t listen.

24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 17:28 Humble people listen, but the prideful just talk a lot.

28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 18:2 Prideful people talk a lot but aren’t interested in learning.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

Proverbs 23:9 Proud fools hate wise correction.

9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Proverbs 24:7 Proud fools don’t like to learn.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

Proverbs 1:7 Revering God is knowledge, but fools (the prideful) despise it.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Psalm 14:1 The fool (the proud) says in their heart, NOT THEIR MIND, there is no God. They’re not interesting in knowing truth.

1 For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

Romans 1:21-31 People BECOME prideful (foolish) when they neither honor nor give thanks to God.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,.. 28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.

“Proud souls, go on in your proud ways, but know that they end in destruction. Climb up the ladder of your pride, you shall fall over on the other side and be dashed to pieces. Ascend the steep hill of your glory; the higher you climb the more terrible will be your fall. For know you this, that against none hath the Lord Almighty bent his bow more often, and against none has he shot his arrows more furiously than against the proud and mighty man that exalteth himself.” - Charles Spurgeon

PRIDE TURNS PEOPLE AGAINST GOD

Jeremiah 48:20-43 God completely destroys and humiliates those who are proud towards God.

20 Moab is put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed. 21 Judgment has come upon the high plain—upon Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath, 22 upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, 23 upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon, 24 upon Kerioth, Bozrah, and all the towns of Moab, those far and near. 25 The horn of Moab has been cut off, and his arm is broken,” declares the LORD. 26 “Make him drunk, because he has magnified himself against the LORD; so Moab will wallow in his own vomit, and he will also become a laughingstock. 27 Was not Israel your object of ridicule? Was he ever found among thieves? For whenever you speak of him you shake your head. 28 Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks, O dwellers of Moab! Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave. 29 We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his proud arrogance and haughtiness of heart. 30 I know his insolence,” declares the LORD, “but it is futile. His boasting is as empty as his deeds… 42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD.43 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 50:29-32 One’s pride causes them to fight against God and the humbling will be harsh.

29 Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,” declares the LORD. 31 “Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, “for your day has come, the time when I will punish you. 32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”

Ezekiel 35:10-15 Pride turns people against God, and He humbles those people SO THAT they will come to Him.

10 Because you have said, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours, and we will possess them,’ even though the LORD was there, 11 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred against them, and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard every contemptuous word you uttered against the mountains of Israel when you said, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to devour!’ 13 You boasted against Me with your mouth and multiplied your words against Me. I heard it Myself! 14 This is what the Lord GOD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Daniel 5:17-23 God puts rulers in their places for His glory and they had better honor God and recognize Him as king.

17 In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him. 18 As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. 19 Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes. 22 But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

Jude1:14-16 The proud speak against God and are never happy.

14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones 15 to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.” 16 These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

“For, look you, first, when you have no faith in yourself, there is the more room in the soul for faith in Jesus. If you have confidence in yourself, that bit of self is filled; but if you have no confidence in yourself, your soul is one great vacuum, and you can hold the more of Christ” - Charles Spurgeon

GOD HUMBLES OPPRESSIVE PEOPLE

Amos 8:3-4 Harsh punishment is on those who mistreat the needy and humble ones.

3 “In that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “the songs of the temple will turn to wailing. Many will be the corpses, strewn in silence everywhere!” 4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the humble of the land,

Isaiah 13:11 God will humble the tyrants and proud of the world.

11 I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.

Psalm 31:17-24 God protects the humble from the bitter prideful people attacking them.

17 O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol. 18 May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt… 23 Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant. 24 Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 36:10-12 The upright heart receives mercy and the prideful are defeated.

10 Extend Your loving devotion to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of the proud come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the evildoers lie fallen, thrown down and unable to rise.

Ezekiel 7:9-27 Unchecked pride slowly grows out of control until God crushes it SO THAT we turn back to Him.

9 I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that it is I, the LORD, who strikes the blow. 10 Behold, the day is here! It has come! Doom has gone out, the rod has budded, arrogance has bloomed. 11 Their violence has grown into a rod to punish their wickedness. None of them will remain: none of their multitude, none of their wealth, and nothing of value. 12 The time has come; the day has arrived. Let the buyer not rejoice and the seller not mourn, for wrath is upon the whole multitude. 13 The seller will surely not recover what he sold while both remain alive. For the vision concerning the whole multitude will not be revoked, and because of their iniquity, not one of them will preserve his life.

20 His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them. 21 And I will hand these things over as plunder to foreigners and loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile them. 22 I will turn My face away from them, and they will defile My treasured place. Violent men will enter it, and they will defile it. 23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. 24 So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned. 25 Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none. 26 Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders. 27 The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and I will judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

Psalm 70:1-2 God humbles those who enjoy hurting others.

1 To bring remembrance. Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Hurry, O LORD, to help me! 2 May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated.

Ezekiel 32:11-15 Sometimes God uses violence to humble our pride SO THAT we turn back to God.

11 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you! 12 I will make your hordes fall by the swords of the mighty, the most ruthless of all nations. They will ravage the pride of Egypt and all her multitudes will be destroyed. 13 I will slaughter all her cattle beside the abundant waters. No human foot will muddy them again, and no cattle hooves will disturb them. 14 Then I will let her waters settle and will make her rivers flow like oil,’ declares the Lord GOD. 15 ‘When I make the land of Egypt a desolation and empty it of all that filled it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the LORD.’

Micah 2:1-3 Greed and envy are signs of pride, but it is the worst when we act on it.

1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. 2 They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. 3 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

Psalm 17:8-12 Violent angry people are prideful and close their own hearts.

8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground, 12 like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

Psalm 56:1-2 Prideful people are oppressive and fight against the godly.

1 To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. 2 My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.

Psalm 59:10-12 God humbles prideful people who attack with lies and curses.

10 My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.

11 Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield. 12 By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.

Psalm 86:14 Prideful men are violent and do not think about God.

14 The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life; they have no regard for You.

Psalm 94:1-8 God pays back the proud for their injustice to the humble.

1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth. 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud. 3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? 4 They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast. 5 They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. 7 They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.” 8 Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

Psalm 119:20-122 Prideful people disobey God and oppress with lies and traps.

20 My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant—the cursed who stray from Your commandments. 22 Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies…50 This is my comfort in affliction, that Your promise has given me life. 51 The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law… 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep Your precepts with all my heart. 78 May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; I will meditate on Your precepts… 84 How many days must Your servant wait? When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?... 85 The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law… 121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

Psalm 101:4-5 God will not put up with oppressive people with a prideful heart.

4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.

Psalm 123:3-4 Ask God for grace and relief from the bitter anger of the proud.

3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. 4 We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

Psalm 140:1-7 God protects the humble in battle and from the traps of the prideful ones.

1 Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, 2 who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long. 3 They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah 4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble. 5 The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah 6 I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help. 7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.

Proverbs 6:16-19 God hates these acts of pride; lying and lying are two of the seven.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, 19 a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

Proverbs 14:1-3 The humble wise build up but the prideful fools tear down.

1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. 2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him. 3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Ecclesiastes 7:4-9 The Wise are humble and focused on the self of others while Fools are proud and self focused.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile. 7 Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. 8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one. 9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

BSB

Jeremiah 49:12-19 As pride grows inside of us, we begin to believe we’re more amazing than we actually are.

12 For this is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too. 13 For by Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that Bozrah will become a desolation, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse, and all her cities will be in ruins forever.” 14 I have heard a message from the LORD; an envoy has been sent to the nations: “Assemble yourselves to march against her! Rise up for battle!” 15 “For behold, I will make you small among nations, despised among men. 16 The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. 17 “Edom will become an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds. 18 As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown along with their neighbors,” says the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there. 19 Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”

GOD HUMBLES THE COCKY

Psalm 18:27 God humbles cocky people.

27 For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

Isaiah 28:1 Be careful not to take pride and security in things and places that are not established by God.

1 Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.

Isaiah 5:15 Every high or low person will be humbled and God will be exalted.

15 So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled; the arrogant will lower their eyes.

2 Samuel 22:26-30 God saves the humble, those who recognize it is He who equips and strengthens us.

26 To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 27 to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. 28 You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. 29 For You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness. 30 For in You I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

Job 40:6-12 Who are we to question God. Do we think we are so great that we can do what He does?

6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me. 8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? 10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low. 12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.

1 Samuel 2:1-3 Boast in God, not in our own strength, because God exalts the humble and humbles the proud.

1 At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God. 3 Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.

Psalm 75:1-7 God’s judgment puts the prideful people down and the humble He lifts up.

1 We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your Name is near. The people declare Your wondrous works. 2 “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly. 3 When the earth and all its dwellers quake, it is I who bear up its pillars. Selah 4 I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn. 5 Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’” 6 For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert, 7 but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.

Isaiah 16:5-7 Prideful people think more highly of themselves than they should.

5 in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness. 6 We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty. 7 Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.

Ezekiel 31:1-11 When someone doesn’t credit God for their success or beauty but credits their SELF, God will cut them down.

1 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be compared to your greatness? 3 Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. 4 The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. 6 All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade. 7 It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its limbs, for its roots extended to abundant waters. 8 The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it; the cypresses could not compare with its branches, nor the plane trees match its boughs. No tree in the garden of God could compare with its beauty. 9 I made it beautiful with its many branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God.’ 10 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, 11 I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it.

Amos 6:6-9 God is disgusted with pride.

6 You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph. 7 Therefore, you will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and your feasting and lounging will come to an end. 8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself—the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared: “I abhor Jacob’s pride and detest his citadels, so I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” 9 And if there are ten men left in one house, they too will die.

Zephaniah 2:8-11 God protects His children and humbles those who are prideful towards them so they will worship Him.

8 “I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders. 9 Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.” 10 This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts. 11 The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

Exodus 18:8-11

8 Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

1 Kings 20:8-13 No one likes it when people are cocky, including God. They are overconfident and boast in their own power.

8 And the elders and the people all said, “Do not listen to him or consent to his terms.” 9 So Ahab answered the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you demanded of your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers departed and relayed the message to Ben-hadad. 10 Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.” 11 And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’” 12 Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city. 13 Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

Daniel 11:10-13 Prideful hearts of leaders cause pain and suffering to those whom they lead.

10 But his sons will stir up strife and assemble a great army, which will advance forcefully, sweeping through like a flood, and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress. 11 In a rage, the king of the South will march out to fight the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be delivered into the hand of his enemy. 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be proud in heart and will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not triumph. 13 For the king of the North will raise another army, larger than the first, and after some years he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

Galatians 5:25-26 Prideful people brag about their self, want to argue and envy others.

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

Revelation 13:4-6 You can always tell those filled with pride because they spew hate for God and his saints.

4 They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. 6 And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

Luke 13:14-17 People are humiliated when they try to fight against God.

14 But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.” 15 “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water? 16 Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” 17 When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.

GOD HUMBLES THE GREEDY

Ezekiel 16:47-58 Pride makes us think about enjoying our own pleasure and sin instead of helping the needy.

47 And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were. 48 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done. 49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen. 51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous. 52 So now you must bear your disgrace, since you have brought justification for your sisters. For they appear more righteous than you, because your sins were more vile than theirs. So you too must bear your shame and disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous. 53 But I will restore Sodom and her daughters from captivity, as well as Samaria and her daughters. And I will restore you along with them. 54 So you will bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you did to comfort them. 55 And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state. 56 Did you not treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn in the day of your pride, 57 before your wickedness was uncovered? Even so, you are now scorned by the daughters of Edom and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. 58 You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD.

Amos 8:6-7 Pride is strong when it causes us to take advantage of the poor so that our self feels good.

6 Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” 7 The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget any of their deeds.

Malachi 3:8-18 The proud break agreements if they don’t see how it can benefit their self. God was doing his part of the covenant by providing but they were stealing by not doing their agreed upon tithing to feed the Levites.

8 Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight,” says the LORD of Hosts. 13 “Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts? 15 So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’” 16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name. 17 “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

WHY GOD HUMBLES US

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Does God, himself, cause suffering and tragedy? He certainly allows Satan to do things and He also allows sin to take its course. He also set physical laws, like gravity and healthy principles, in motion and doesn’t interfere all that often with them.

Generally humble people take selfies on the edges of cliffs, disregard speed limits on rainy days and swim across crocodile infested rivers in Africa and expect to be fine. They also say “God, please don’t let this cigarette cause cancer or let my horribly junky diet cause me problems”. If you play dumb games, God allows you win dumb prizes. But here are more thoughts about why hard times happen.

Isaiah 45:5-7 God creates calamity so that other people will see it and know and believe in Him.

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me, 6 so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

Job 42:10-17 God brought on all of Job’s adversity and then blessed Job AFTER he prayed for his friends.

10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions. 11 All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. 12 So the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch. 15 No women as beautiful as Job’s daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived 140 years and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so Job died, old and full of years.

TO MAKE US OR KEEP US CHRISTLIKE

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 The apostle Paul was commissioned personally by Jesus, was taken up into Paradise and the 3rd Heaven and heard words he could not share, so God gave him a thorn in the flesh so he would not become too arrogant and be ruined.

1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 6 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Romans 8:28-29 To be conformed to the image of Jesus is to have a humble heart.

28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Knowing that, we should consider it all joy that He is shaping us because there is a lot going on and who knows what eternity will look like for us because of the hard times. You aren’t expected to rejoice that someone died or that you have cancer, but find joy in the fact that God knows what He’s doing and for your Christlikeness and the good of others that will come from it.

Romans 5:3-5 Rough seas make good sailors.

3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

James 1:2-5 Take joy that you are being chiseled and shaped and becoming mature. Wisdom is the same as humility throughout the Bible. If you ask for wisdom, you are asking for humility.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Hebrews 12:1-12 Toughen up buttercup. God is perfecting our faith through discipline because He loves us.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.

TO SPUR ON EVANGELISM

Ephesians 3 Did God put Paul in chains?

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles…

Philippians 1:12-14 Hard times for one but good times for millions.

12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.

Paul had time to write the letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and to Philemon while in prison in Rome so that billions of future believers would know God better through those letters. Hard times in the lives of believers shape us into the image or Christ and that happens when our heart is humble like Christ’s.

TO BLESS US

There are many reasons God gives us adversity, but one is because he wants to bless us, but we may not have the humility to handle it.

2 Chronicles 32:25-30 He was proud, but when he humbled the pride of his heart, he was blessed.

TO TEST US

Deuteronomy 8:1-2 To know what is in our heart.

1 You must carefully follow every commandment I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and enter and possess the land that the LORD swore to give your fathers. 2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

Deuteronomy 8:3 To teach us that we can to rely on Him to provide.

3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Job 1:8-12 God used Satan to test Job, to see if he would be faithful to God and trust Him, even though he didn’t understand his hard times.

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

SO THAT GOD IS PRAISED, THANKED AND HONORED

Isaiah 5:13-16 So God is exalted by all.

13 Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst. 14 Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers! 15 So mankind will be brought low, and each man humbled; the arrogant will lower their eyes. 16 But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.

Deuteronomy 8:16-18 So we remember God is in charge and loves us which is for our longterm benefit.

16 He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers had not known, in order to humble you and test you, so that in the end He might cause you to prosper. 17 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” 18 But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.

Psalm 83:16-18 So they know and honor God.

16 Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD. 17 May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. 18 May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.

Isaiah 2:17 So that God will be the only one being praised and exalted.

17 So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

Psalm 107:11-13 To make us thankful to God.

11 because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. 12 He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.

FOR PEACE

Psalm 55:18-19 God knows that humble people seek peace and honor God.

18 He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19 God will hear and humiliate them—the One enthroned for the ages—Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

Psalm 76:9 So the innocent won’t have to suffer.

9 When God rose up to judge, to save all the lowly of the earth. Selah

FOR OUR CHILDREN

2 Chronicles 33:21-25 Because kids need humble fathers when they are young so they won’t be like their prideful fathers.

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. 22 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon served and sacrificed to all the idols that his father Manasseh had made, 23 but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt. 24 Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his palace. 25 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

TO RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Jeremiah 3:24-25 To restore a right relationship with God.

24 “But the shame has consumed the product of our fathers’ labor since our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

Jeremiah 14:1-18 So we confess our sin and come back to Him.

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: 2 “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. 3 The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. 4 The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. 5 Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. 6 Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.” 7 Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.

17 You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound. 18 If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

2 Chronicles 28:16-23 To bring back right living and faithfulness.

16 At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria. 17 The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages. 19 For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD. 20 Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him. 21 Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him. 22 In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him, and he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But these gods were the downfall of Ahaz and of all Israel.

TO PUNISH AND CORRECT SIN

Pride turns people away from God, so God turns people back to Him by disciplining that.

Jeremiah 31:18-33 To discipline and correct us. Verses 31-33 are here just because they are GREAT verses you should read.

18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. 19 After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’... 31 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Isaiah 45:16-17 Those who contribute to another’s sin will be humbled by God.

16 They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace. 17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting.

Jeremiah 15:3-9 Our lack of humility causes God to humble us and it hurts.

3 I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem. 5 Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare? 6 You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back. So I will stretch out My hand against you and I will destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion. 7 I will scatter them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land. I will bereave and destroy My people who have not turned from their ways. 8 I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay. 9 The mother of seven will grow faint; she will breathe her last breath. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. And the rest I will put to the sword in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 21:25-27 God exalts humble people and takes down the proud king.

25 And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your final punishment.’ 26 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. 27 A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’

Jeremiah 49:29-43 Because of their pride, they stupidly raised their fist in God’s face.

29 We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his proud arrogance and haughtiness of heart. 30 I know his insolence,” declares the LORD, “but it is futile. His boasting is as empty as his deeds… 42 Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD.43 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 18:15-17 God turns his back on his people because of their lifestyle.

15 Yet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their ways, leaving the ancient roads to walk on rutted bypaths instead of on the highway. 16 They have made their land a desolation, a perpetual object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and shake their heads. 17 I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind. I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their calamity.”

TO KEEP US ALIVE

Ezekiel 17:11-15 To keep us alive.

11 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 “Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon. 13 He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant. 15 But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’

Daniel 4:32-37 So that we praise and honor God, which is for our own good.

32 You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.” 33 At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. 34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” 36 At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

WAYS TO HUMBLE YOUR OWN SELF BEFORE GOD DOES

2 Corinthians 10:5 When a prideful thought enters your head, pray that God helps you.

5 We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Rewire your brain and your heart by regularly practicing these things. Be Thankful, Rest, Fast, Confess sin, Submit, Obey, Ask Questions of Others, Read the Bible a lot, Share the gospel.

BY BEING THANKFUL

A key to humility is being thankful. To thank God for all of the good things that have happened and how he has shaped you and included you to be a part of it. Set frequent hourly reminders on your calendar to thank God for ten things around you or in your life that you’re thankful for.

Here are a few verses with humility tied to being thankful, but the theme is throughout the entire Bible. God wants us to do it so we don’t take credit for the things that God did and how He created and gifted us. God wants us to remember that He is the one who provides and gifts us certain ways and blesses us and makes us who we are, so we continue relying on Him instead of relying on our SELF. That’s why He had the Jews observe all of the festivals commemorating the times God provided for and took care of them. He wanted them to remember so that would keep them humble. Thankfulness usually results in actions and words too.

Deuteronomy 8:3-14 Continually thanking God reminds us that He did it all, so we don’t get proud and forget Him.

3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, SO THAT you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. 6 Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, walking in His ways and fearing Him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; 9 a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and whose hills are ready to be mined for copper. 10 When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you. 11 Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

2 Chronicles‬ ‭32:25-29 He was ungrateful to God because he didn’t feel God helped him.

25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah. 27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles. 28 He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks. 29 He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth.

Psalm 69:29-32 Praising God and thankfulness are marks of humility.

29 But I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation protect me, O God. 30 I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. 31 And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves. 32 The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

James 1:2-5 Being thankful is tied to wisdom, which is interchangeable with humility.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Romans 5:1-4 Be thankful in the fact that we are suffering because it creates in us character and hope.

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 God wants us to be others focused and be thankful in ALL things, not just the good things, because it is good for us.

15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice at all times. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:12-17 Be others focused and love one another. Be thankful. It is a commandment.

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Chronicles 16:1-12 Be thankful and boast about God’s goodness.

1 So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 7 On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: 8 “Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations. 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. 10 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 12 Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 Be careful to regularly remember that God is the reason for our blessings and position or we will become proud.

14 When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers. 16 But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ 17 He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold. 18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. 20 Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.

BY FASTING

It is a physical expression of inner humility

1 Kings 21:27-29 God responds with mercy when we humble ourselves with fasting.

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

Ezra 8:21-23 God often answers prayers when he sees fasting, which is usually a sign of humility.

21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.

Psalm 35:13 Pray with intense humility, by fasting, but do it with a humble heart or God doesn’t listen.

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

Matthew 6:16-21 Humbling our SELF with fasting for God’s eyes only and you’ll get rewarded. Fasting to be praised by men is bad.

16 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

BY PRAYER

Several of the lists of signs of pride said that we will always be proud, but we need people to pray for us and we need to pray for ourselves throughout the day so that when we notice ourselves becoming proud and starting to say or do something that is SELF-ish, then pray and ask God to help us.

This LITANY OF HUMILITY was written by the very influential Spanish Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930). It is said that he prayed this litany every day after celebrating Holy Mass to remain grounded in his identity from God rather than as a prince of the Church.

“Oh Jesus, meek and humble of heart. Hear me.

Deliver me, Jesus

From the desire of being esteemed

From the desire of being loved

From the desire of being extolled

From the desire of being honored

From the desire of being praised

From the desire of being preferred to others

From the desire of being consulted

From the desire of being approved

From the fear of being humiliated.

Deliver me, Jesus

From the fear of being despised

From the fear of suffering rebukes

From the fear of being slandered

From the fear of being forgotten

From the fear of being ridiculed

From the fear of being wronged

From the fear of being suspected

That others may be loved more than I

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I

That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease

That others may be chosen and I set aside

That others may be praised and I unnoticed

That others may be preferred to me in everything

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should by loving God and neighbor above all else, putting others needs before my own.

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.”

BY RESTING

Leviticus 16:29-31 To rest is to humble your SELF and rely on God to provide.

29 This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31 It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, that you may humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute.

Leviticus 23:26-32 A Sabbath rest is a way of humbling your SELF.

26 Again the LORD said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present a food offering to the LORD. 28 On this day you are not to do any work, for it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. 29 If anyone does not humble himself on this day, he must be cut off from his people. 30 I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on this day. 31 You are not to do any work at all. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to keep your Sabbath.”

Numbers 29:7 Humble yourself through rest.

7 On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work.

BY CONFESSING SIN

Ezra 9:5-6 Leaders humbly confess and are ashamed for those they lead.

5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6 and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.

Leviticus 26:40-45 Confession with action to make things right is humility in action.

40 But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— 41 and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 For the land will be abandoned by them, and it will enjoy its Sabbaths by lying desolate without them. And they will pay the penalty for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and abhorred My statutes. 44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their fathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.”

Psalm 40:11-15 God humbles us with oppressive people to make our proud sinful heart humble.

11 O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me. 12 For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; hurry, O LORD, to help me. 14 May those who seek my life be ashamed and confounded; may those who wish me harm be repelled and humiliated. 15 May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.

BY SUBMITTING

Submission doesn’t mean one is less than the other, just like a Lieutenant in the military is not less of a man than a general or Jesus is less God than God the Father. It just means that one willingly lets the other be in charge. It’s not always easy to submit to the authority God put over us, especially if they’re bad; kids to parents, employees to bosses, wives to husbands, citizens to the government, parishioners to the elders of their church. God asks us to humble ourselves and submit until that person asks us to disobey God, who we ultimately need to submit to. God asked husbands to submit to their wives, but not as the leader of the home.

James 4:4-10 When humble people submit to God’s authority and draw near to Him, He blesses them.

4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy? 6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:5-7 Humble people submit to God and to their leaders and act selflessly towards others.

5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Genesis 16:6-10 Submitting to God’s leading requires humility, but obedience comes with blessing.

6 “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her. 7 Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. 8 “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. 9 So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10 Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

2 Chronicles 30:6-12 Be humble and return to God; submit, come to and serve Him and He will show mercy.

6 At the command of the king, the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see. 8 Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” 10 And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the people scorned and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 32:23-26 Not thankful is a sign of a proud heart, but you can humble your SELF.

23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations. 24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

BY OBEYING

“Obedience is the best humility, laying yourself at the feet of Jesus, and making your will active only when you know what it is God’s will for you to do. This is to be truly humble.” - Charles Spurgeon

Philippians 2:8 Jesus’s obedience was the sign of his humility.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 God offers extra special blessings to those who intently obey Him.

1 “Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 The LORD will decree a blessing on your barns and on everything to which you put your hand; the LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you. 9 The LORD will establish you as His holy people, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you. 11 The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land—in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today. 14 Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.

Leviticus 26:3-20 If you do not submit your SELF to God and obey Him, then He will humble your pride with hard times until you do.

14 If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, 15 and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you. 18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze, 20 and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.

Exodus 10:1-3 Pharaoh wasn’t worthless. He served as a bad example to all nations around and to future generations SO THAT they would believe in Him. He wanted their humility.

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, 2 and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.” 3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

1 Corinthians 5:1-7 Be sad about pride and get it out because it spreads to others.

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?... 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

GOOD PRIDE

We should be proud of a lot of things. God asks us to do good work, as if we are doing it for Him, so if we get an award or an ‘atta boy for doing good work, we should be proud of that. Just accepting it is the humble thing to do.

TAKE PRIDE IN GOD

1 Chronicles 16:1-12 Be thankful and boast about God’s goodness.

1 And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God… 7 Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord. 8 Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make His deeds known among the peoples. 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. 10 Boast in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful. 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. 12 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth.

Psalm 47:1-4 God is the power, or pride, of Israel.

1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout unto God with a voice of triumph. 2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! 3 He subdues nations beneath us, and peoples under our feet. 4 He chooses our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah

Isaiah 60:14-16 Be proud of and take security in beautiful and powerful things that God has established.

14 The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas you have been forsaken and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from age to age. 16 You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty; you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Hebrews 3:23-24 We need to continue to be proud of our solid hope in Christ.

5 Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

1 Samuel 17:26-28 Confidence in God’s power looks like pride to those who don’t understand it. His brother was right about David’s pride. It grew out of control when he became rich, famous and powerful and then took him down.

26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.” 28 Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”

Isaiah 20:1-6 If we are going to put our hope in one thing, let it be God and let us trust in Him.

1 Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it, 2 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot. 3 Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. 5 Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6 And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”

TAKE PRIDE IN GODLINESS

2 Corinthians 8:23-24 Love for God and godliness are reasons to be proud.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14 Be proud of godly people with healthy and good behavior.

12 For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God. 13 For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely, 14 as you have already understood us in part, that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:11-15 Be proud of those who care about a good heart rather than just putting on a good show.

11 Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themSELVES, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

2 Corinthians 7:1-4 We should be proud of those who are godly.

1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you. 4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.

Galatians 6:1-5 Be proud of good work you do, but remember that anything amazing you do, is because God did it through you.

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else. 5 For each one should carry his own load.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4 Be proud of those who hold to their faith in God in hard times.

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing. 4 That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

STRENGTH AND POWER IN NATURE IS GOOD PRIDE

Job 28:7-12 Proud animals are strong ones.

7 No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it. 8 Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it. 9 The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base. 10 He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure. 11 He stops up the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light. 12 But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?

Job 41:10-34 What makes a dragon strong and invincible, what his pride is, is in his strong scales. He is the epitome of proud.

10 No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan. Then who is able to stand against Me? 11 Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. 12 I cannot keep silent about his limbs, his power and graceful form. 13 Who can strip off his outer coat? Who can approach him with a bridle? 14 Who can open his jaws, ringed by his fearsome teeth? 15 His rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together. 16 One scale is so near to another that no air can pass between them. 17 They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated. 18 His snorting flashes with light, and his eyes are like the rays of dawn. 19 Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth! 20 Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. 21 His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth. 22 Strength resides in his neck, and dismay leaps before him. 23 The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. 24 His chest is as hard as a rock, as hard as a lower millstone! 25 When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified; they withdraw before his thrashing. 26 The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or dart or arrow. 27 He regards iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. 28 No arrow can make him flee; slingstones become like chaff to him. 29 A club is regarded as straw, and he laughs at the sound of the lance. 30 His undersides are jagged potsherds, spreading out the mud like a threshing sledge. 31 He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron; he makes the sea like a jar of ointment. 32 He leaves a glistening wake behind him; one would think the deep had white hair! 33 Nothing on earth is his equal—a creature devoid of fear! 34 He looks down on all the haughty; he is king over all the proud.”

GOOD PRIDE OF NATURE

Job 38:8-11 The ocean has powerful and proud waves, which are not bad.

8 Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, 10 when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, 11 and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’? 12 In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place,

Isaiah 4:1-2 God will make the produce be the strength of Israel (fruit - Jesus? I’m not sure).

1 In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” 2 On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.

HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES LEAD TO GOOD PRIDE (STRENGTH)

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 When God steps in to help us in our humble circumstances, then we are strongest because His strength and power (good pride) is working through us.

9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Chronicles 16:9 God acts powerfully on behalf of those whose hearts are right (humble), but the opposite, the prideful (foolish) will have trouble.

9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”

James 1:9-12 The humble poor should glory in their high position in God’s eyes, believe the gospel and then act on it.

9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Philippians 4:10-14 We need to be content in humble circumstances when we don’t have much.

10 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.

Philippians 3:20-21 Our earthly bodies are lowly compared to the glorified body that believers will receive.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Acts 8:32-33 Jesus’s humiliation was about him coming from a high position and going to a low and humble position as a man being judged and executed.

32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. 33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”

MEN HUMBLE OTHER MEN

2 Samuel 19:1-3 Defeated people are humbled people.

1 Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 2 And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.” 3 So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle.

1 Chronicles 19:4-5 Embarrassment is humbling.

4 So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. 5 When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

CONCLUSION

HOW EXTREME PRIDE SLIPS IN

Did you know that the career with the highest rate of adultery is that of a pastor in a church. It must be true because I read it on the internet. But, last year in North Texas, twelve major pastors were humiliated and had to step down because of SELF issues. This is common for all public figures like CEO’s, singers, pro athletes, actors and actresses too. Our SELF, if not kept in check, subtly grows stronger and stronger over several years of being innocently complimented and praised for exercising the gifts and abilities God gave us. Slowly, we start taking more and more credit for the success that God made happen around us and through us.

We start believing things about our SELF that are over-inflated, above what is actually true. And that view of our SELF begins to feel actual and normal. And then we say and do things so that others think as highly about us as we do. And we do that because we deeply believe that how highly we think about our SELF is accurate and true and we start thinking more about how can our own SELF feel good, more than the SELF of others around us.

2 Corinthians 12:11

11 I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

“You will be greatly helped in avoiding censoriousness if you have a lowly view of yourself, so as to say— “Though I be nothing.” This will also help you to avoid all self-seeking. Why should you seek your own if you be nothing? There is no good in seeking for great things for a nothing. If you be nothing, you will keep your motives clear; you will seek the glory of God, and not your own glory. If you be nothing, self-denial will become very easy to you. You will be willing to be a doormat to God’s temple for his saints to wipe their feet upon, if you can be more serviceable than in any other capacity.

A man who feels himself to be nothing will be easily contented. He who is nothing does not want a thousand a-year to maintain his dignity. He who is nothing, having food and raiment, is therewith content. It would be a pity to spend a great deal upon nothing; so he that is nothing thanks God for what he has, and eats his bread and drinks his cup of water, and blesses God that he has all that, and Jesus Christ too. Mr. Somebody wants a large estate and a heap of money, and when he has that, Mr. Somebody wants much more, and is never satisfied. Then, too, he has so many calls that he cannot afford to give anything away; while he who is nothing has his weekly tithe to bring, for he feels himself to be nothing but a steward, and must faithfully use his Master’s goods.

He who knows himself to be nothing, is also full of gratitude. If you catch him alone you will find the tears in his eyes, and if you question him he will tell you that he was weeping to think that God should ever have loved him, for he is such a nobody. He was wondering at his election, marvelling that eternal love should have pitched upon him. He was wondering at redemption, admiring that the Lord Jesus Christ should have shed his blood for him. He was wondering at effectual calling, amazed that the Holy Ghost should ever have called him. He was wondering at the persevering love of God, that the Lord’s mercy should have endured his ill manners so long. He was wondering that there should be a heaven for him, wondering that there should be eternal life for him. “Though I be nothing,” says he, “yet infinite grace is mine.” How can there be all this for a nobody? Great God, how good thou art! Is not all this a sweet commendation of a lowly spirit? He that lives in the Valley of Humiliation, among the lilies, dwells where the birds sing all day, and the roes and the hinds of the field lie down in peace.” - Charles Spurgeon

TRUE HUMILITY IS TO LIVE FOR THE SELF OF OTHERS

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 By our faith, God causes our love to overflow, our humility to pour out for the SELF of the unbelievers, for future purposes.

12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 Chase after what is good for the SELF of others.

15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

Colossians 2:16-23 Acting really religious, by not eating or drinking certain things and observing special days and feasts, seems humble (appearance of wisdom) but it is SELF-ish, false humility.

16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. 19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their SELF-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Philippians 1:20-27 Paul wants to die and go to Heaven for his SELF, but will stay alive to continue for their spiritual wellbeing and joy in the faith for the SELF of them to be better off.

20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. 23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 24 But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me. 27 Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel.

SAY NO TO MAN BOOBS AND YES TO SIX PACK ABS

My wife swears that Essential Oils work, so on any given day in our home, you may smell frankincense or myrrh, depending on the health, or the lack thereof, of the family (if only it smelled a little more like gold around here). But imagine if studies showed that if you rubbed a few drops of Oregano oil on your chest once a week, you would have the strength and stamina and the heart of a young stallion and have six pack abs. You can bet your bottom dollar my world would smell a lot more Italian. In fact, I would slather it on. Everyone would think I was always sweating through my shirt, but no, that would be oregano oil soaking through. Likewise, if what the Bible says is true about those with a humble heart and that they have it all, then why not repeatedly throughout the day to ask God, even right now before you read another sentence, to give you the desire for a humble heart and that He would regularly shape your heart to be humble all the time. You can go ahead right now. I’ll wait.

I read a study to my family that prepubescent boys who are exposed to a lot of Lavender and Tea Tree Oil will probably have a problem with man boobs when they’re older. My 10 year old son’s eyes got as big as saucers because we had Lavender and Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner in the shower. He immediately stopped using it just in case the study were true. If your pride could maybe, sort of, possibly, just a little bit be the root of all the pain and difficulty in your work, marriage and overall life, and if life just isn’t going the way you were hoping, then this very second, as soon as you finish this sentence, stop slathering on the pride and immediately get people close to you to join you in asking God to help you not be so prideful and that when you sense it coming up your throat, that you’d swallow it back down and be humble. Go ahead, ask God right now. I’m not in a hurry.

Again, here are some things you can start working into your life. Daily, tell God 30 things you’re thankful for. Fast for three days with only drinking water, and everytime you think about food or eating, tell God that you hunger for Him to shape in you a humble heart. Rest. Confess your sins to Him and be sorry about them. Submit to His rule. Obey Him and do what He has commanded us to do, like evangelism or serving the people around you in little ways. Thinking about the SELF of others more than your own SELF.

Remember, one action begets another action which eventually begets a habit. And a habit begets a character. What took all these years to wind up will not unwind in a few weeks, but God isn’t going to wait literally forever until we are perfectly humble before He starts doing cool things in us and through us. He will start once you start and truly desire that He shapes in you a Humble Heart.

Subtle Signs of Pride in your Co-workers, Spouse, Family, Church Staff and Everybody Else Around You

The Secretly Prideful Person

By Ronald McDonald

A friend told me the other day that I’m a very prideful man, and I said to myself, "Dude's just jealous". So I told my wife what he said and she said, "Ah, come on. You're a humble man. Seriously. You're not cocky and flashy and arrogant and all that." But later that same week, I was reading a book that said the most prideful people aren’t usually the bragging arrogant types. They’re the nice friendly helpful ones at work.

That got me to thinking that maybe my definition of pride wasn’t very complete. Now I really wondered, What are examples of pride? So, I googled “Signs of pride list” and “Spiritual pride” and couldn’t believe what I found. I was all over the list. I read about 40 articles and lists written by well-known psychologists, theologians, pastors and even the Wikipedia entry and consolidated them all here. I put them into 4 groups; Pride of Spirituality, Pride of Knowledge, Pride of Power and Pride of Appearance. So I went back to my wife and said, "Hey honey, I think I found out the root of all of our problems in marriage and work and ministry and all that. ME!!! I'm the problem. Listen to this list of signs of pride that I found." I started reading my list to her and she laughed and said, "Wow! You are prideful. I didn't know that's what pride looked like." So I asked her to pray for me. And then said, "Oh, and there were some other signs that I found on the list." Her jaw dropped as I read hers. She said, "Oh no! I didn't realize I was so prideful either. Will you pray for me too?"

God had been resisting me. It was like his palm was firmly planted in my forehead as I walked through life and it was really uncomfortable. And it was constant. He doesn't bodyslam the proud, he just resists them, but he gives grace (free gifts that we didn't deserve or earn, unmerited favor) to the humble. Could it be that God is resisting you in your relationships or business or church or whatever area of your life? Only by pride comes contention.

There are about 24 different categories one could be prideful in. Most people are pretty humble in most categories and just prideful in one or two. You’ll see your relatives, spouse, boss, employees, friends and president all over this list. But don't forget this. Pride is one of the most destructive and heinous sins you can commit.

My dad used to say, “The reason we shouldn’t sin isn’t because the Bible says not to or because it’s wrong or because we could get caught or because it could mess up our future or because we’ll miss out on blessings. No! We should try not to sin because it hurts our relationship with God.

Ever heard this? “Yeah, maybe I’ve got a little pride. But if you want to get along with me you’ve just got to grow a pair. It’s just the way I am and you’ll just have to deal with it”. For you to know you have even a little bit of pride and not care about it, is to raise your fist in God’s face and say, “Hey God, I don’t care that I’m regularly walking and living in this sin of pride and I’m okay with not having all that great of a relationship with you either”. If that’s you, then watch out. God is resisting you and you have some humiliation coming, which is the process of becoming humble, because he loves you and those around you so much. “God opposes, resists, abhors, tears down, brings down. has scattered, is scornful to, reprimands, will punish, is angry at, every arrogant person, those who have a proud look, those whose pride wells up, arrogant scoffers. “The prideful man – ‬‭will be brought low, humiliated, disgraced, doomed, destroyed, humbled, will not go unpunished, was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed.” Prov 3:34,11:2, 16:5, 15:25, ‭29:23, Ps. ‭18:27, 101:5, 119:21, Is. 2:11,12‬‭‬,10:12, 2 Chr. 32:25, Dan.‬ ‭5:20, Luke 1:51, James 4:6. This is a really serious thing.

We’ll never conquer pride, but if we know what it looks like when it flares up, we can knock it back down before too much damage is done. If people can’t recognize what the signs of cancer look like, then they'll never know they need help. I hope this list helps you understand what pride looks like as much as it's helped me.

How They Define Pride

Our SELF or Ego is basically who we are as a person. It’s not good or bad, it’s just what makes us, us. Unhealthy pride happens when we do or say things for the purpose of people praising our SELF or for making our SELF feel good or putting our SELF ahead of someone else's SELF. Pride wants our SELF to be praised, get glory, be worshiped and be highly talked about, even when we’re not in the room. Unhealthy pride can give us an elevated view of our own SELF that is not accurate, but we truly start to believe it and act to reinforce what we've come to believe as true. And when someone questions or challenges the view of our SELF as not accurate, the fireworks begin.

Here are some of the definitions of pride I found

Pride is being SELF-ish
Thinking excessively about SELF
Pride’s base is too much SELF-love
Thinking the worth of our SELF is higher than it actually is
SELF-worship
Preoccupation with our image or SELF
Pride is narcissism (in love with our image or SELF)
Pride is SELF-centered or EGO-centric (everything revolves around us)
Pride wants to keep the focus on SELF
SELF-ness

"Satan disguises submission to himself under the ruse of personal autonomy. He never asks us to become his servants. Never once did the serpent say to Eve, 'I want to be your Master'. The shift in commitment is never from Christ to evil; it is always from Christ to self. And instead of his will, self-interest now rules and what I want reigns. And that is the essence of sin." - Dennis F. Kinlaw (1922 - 2017)

“Instead of being motivated by SELF-ish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility (THE OPPOSITE OF PRIDE OR SELF-ISH), be moved to treat one another as more important than your SELF. Each should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.” Philippians 2:3-4

“Jesus said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as you love your SELF. All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments’ “Matthew 22:37-39

“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not SELF-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful." (All the negatives are symptoms of pride) I Corinthians 13:4-5

The same list of examples of what pride looks like, is here twice, one after the other. The first list immediately below does not have much explanation attached to the signs of pride. Further down the page is the same list, but with a much fuller explanation of each sign of pride with some links to deeper explanations. If you don’t agree, then google “pride defensiveness” or "pride depression” or “pride low self esteem” or “pride critical” to learn why so many people consider it a sign of pride. But be careful not to judge a person's heart because of their actions or words. You can't always tell. A friend of mine, who is a huge servant and genuinely humble, told me that when he serves others, he usually thinks to himself, "I sure hope they feel cared for and loved". But now and then he serves and says, "I bet they think I'm quite the servant. I bet they think I'm humble". Don't try to play God and judge the heart.

Pride of Spirituality

Try really hard to confirm the fact that they’re spiritual

Asceticism - They reject money, pleasure, joy, fame or possessions (They mistakenly think God likes that)

Brag about how NOT materialistic they are
Excessively give away nice possessions or money that God gives them
Tell everyone, “I gave up a high paying career to do this ministry”
Make excuses for the physical blessings in their life
Look down their SELF righteous noses at the wealthy or successful

Super Christians

Spiritualize every conversation
Speak with a different accent or voice about spiritual stuff
Think they’re more spiritual or righteous than others around them
Feel morally superior
Despise and detest sinners
Insist on having certain roles in the church that they're disqualified or not qualified for, just to prove to people that they're spiritual
Talk a lot about their spiritual gift of apostle or prophet, but not about the less public ones
Talk about how much they pray
Look down on or badmouth Christians or other denominations who believe differently than they do about spiritual gifts
Talk about their fasting SO THAT people know they're fasting “When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive SO THAT people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.”Matthew 6:16

Prayer isn’t from the heart “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners SO THAT people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.” Matthew 6:5

Rehearse or spruce up their public prayers using different words and phrases that they would never say when praying alone
Talk to the people when they say they are praying to God. ie. Give mini-sermonettes, remind the audience of the week's schedule, etc.
Say, "I'll pray for that" when they absolutely have no intention of praying for it. But it sounds spiritual for sure.

False Humility - Humility is seeing yourself and what you do the way it actually is. Pride is not seeing yourself or what you do the way it actually is.

Don’t accept compliments, but instead say, "Thank you but no. It was all God" (If it were all God, it would have been WAY better than you did it)
Say that they’re lower and worse than everyone else
Tell you that they’re humble, “In my humble opinion”

Pride of Knowledge

Try really hard to confirm the fact that they’re smart

Unteachable

Get irritated if someone tries to teach them something
Know it all
Answer “I know, I know” or “Yeah, I already knew that”
Too smart for a formal education or training. “But what could I learn?”

Highly opinionated

Often interrupt people mid-sentence “I don’t mean to interrupt, but…”
Finish other people’s sentences “I know what you're going to say. You were going to say...”
Often try to prove people wrong
If questioned they say, “Don’t you think I know what I’m doing?”
Don’t listen to the ideas or wisdom of those they lead
Use big words and then explain them to you
Despise and detest people of other political beliefs

Defensive when corrected or criticized - If you ever get defensive in marriage, then you have pride and it has to be dealt with. We think the best defense is a great offense when our pride is hurt. “With pride comes only contention...”Proverbs‬ ‭13:10

Attack back when questioned or confronted about a mistake or wrong
Struggle admitting a wrong
Defend their kids and attack anyone who addresses their kid’s wrong behavior (because they think it reflects bad on them)
Refuse to or are slow to say, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”
Blame everyone else but themselves
Set up excuses in advance so it isn’t their fault
Lie or make up excuses when corrected or criticized
Say things like, “Everybody makes mistakes. Heck, you make mistakes too”

Argumentative - Just have to be right

Don’t discuss differences to learn, just to show off how much they know
"Told you so". Remind you about when they were right and you were wrong
Get the last word
Argue strange, hard to defend beliefs or doctrines to impress with their intellect

Critical - Highlight other’s flaws to make their SELF feel better

Quick to correct or criticize spouses, kids, pastors and other leaders
Criticize with no intention of building up or improving the situation
Harsh teasing to tear down
Negative and complain a lot
Don’t show much mercy
Mean spirited

Pride of Power

Try really hard to confirm the fact that they’re capable. “But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God...” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭26:16‬

Controlling - Being obeyed gives their SELF a nice feeling, sense of power

Excessively taking care of and shielding their older children
Pay the consequences for their kid’s irresponsibility
Manipulate to keep their adult children close
Try to control or sway their adult children’s marriages
Use women and keep them hanging on
Throw their wedding ring, threaten to boycott events, scream, threaten divorce, withhold affection or hit

Legalistic - Control through excessive rules - their SELF feels really nice when they are obeyed

Don’t want kids to rebel mostly so that the parent’s SELF or Image isn’t tarnished
Must have the appearance of spirituality in strict dress codes and grooming
King James Version is the only version you can read (huge red flag)
Hold to a few chosen Old Testament laws
No movies with magic in them, no alcohol, cigars, dancing, playing cards, secular music, tattoos, piercings, no Halloween and absolutely no work on Sundays (except for pastors and church staff, of course)

Won’t submit - It makes their SELF falsely feel inferior if they have a positional leader, though it has nothing to do with wisdom, knowledge or ability.

Want the autonomy to decide how to live their life, so won’t submit or surrender to God. “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” James‬ ‭4:5-8
Hate being told to do anything
Will submit in the little things, but not in the big things
Church members won't submit to church leaders
Citizens won't submit to government
Wives won't submit to husbands
Children won't submit to parents
Employees won't submit to employers. They like to spell BOSS backwards. Double S-O-B

Self Reliant - Don’t want or think they need guidance, help or wisdom from God or man. “When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me!”Hosea‬ ‭13:6‬

Independence
Fear or worry a lot because they depend on their own abilities
Hate to rely on others
Think their abilities are superior to others
Don’t let others make decisions
Are bothered when a decision is made without them
Don’t see much need for prayer
Willing to help, but not be helped
Willing to financially support, but can’t ask for support
Rarely say the words “Thank you” to God or man “But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him...”2 Chronicles‬ ‭32:25‬

Excessive need for credit, praise or admiration

Hungry to be made mention of for accomplishments, service or selflessness
Lie about events or accomplishments, way beyond embellishing a story to make it fun
Lie to take credit for things they didn’t do
Don’t give compliments or credit to whom it is due
Hate sharing the spotlight
Shoot down or don’t share other people’s good ideas

Importance - They feel that the value of their SELF grows with accomplishments, status, wealth or success. “By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart is proud because of your wealth.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭28:5‬

People who exploit others to get rich i.e. Health and wealth televangelists, those who prey on the elderly's money etc.
Think their worth to God is based on their sacrifices of time, family or money
Think that everybody needs their help

Workaholic - believes work gives their SELF more worth

Believe that the value of their SELF is based on performance
Obsessed with praise for their discipline, schedule, productivity or busyness
Love the feeling of their SELF being praised and built up more than they care about the SELF of their kids who don’t believe their SELF is worth much anymore
Work long hours doing work of 2 - 3 people. Often called a Workhorse or a Machine
Serve or work so much that it hurts their family relationships
Volunteers for everything
Hungry to be depended on
Can’t say no
People pleaser
Can’t set boundaries
Addicted to power and control
Don’t delegate much

Grandiosity - Think they are superior to the common man, in their essence, to the point that some even believe they are god-like

Condescending and disdainful attitude toward people because of their tastes being inferior to theirs in food, restaurants, sports, movies and other likes and dislikes
Look down their noses, demeans, belittles, intimidates, bullies others who's likes or dislikes differ from their own superior ones
Have an unrealistic sense of, and sustained view of, their own SELF as better than other people
Have a strong sense of personal uniqueness or coolness
Believe that few people have anything in common with their SELF
Believe that their SELF can only be understood by very few and special people

Boastful and arrogant “Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated...” Isaiah‬ ‭2:11‬

Overly materialistic hoping people will think more highly of their SELF
Skillfully brag about their successful ministry, in a humble sounding way
Hint around at their success
Claim that they're a genius or one of the best ever or one of the best on their team
Talk a lot about their importance, status, accomplishments, possessions, education, title, position, credentials or financial status
Name drop the high-status people they associate with
Surround themselves with good looking or successful people
Think certain tasks would lower their image or value of their SELF
Think they’re above certain tasks
Feel entitled to high treatment
Feel superior to or are prejudiced towards less wealthy, refined, educated or less successful people or those from a different country or culture

Inconvenience others - the world revolves around their SELF. Self-centered, ego-centric, self-absorbed

Feel powerful when people have to wait on them. I often wonder if people who drive slow in the fast lane and won't let people pass are just jerks or just ignorant
Regularly make everyone wait on them to get to the meeting so they can start
Inconsiderate. Don’t consider other people’s time

Not interested in other people

Rarely ask questions of others because they’re more interested in their SELF than in the SELF of others
Dominate conversations talking about their SELF thinking or how much they know SO THAT we're impressed with their SELF
Rarely compliment people
Wait to be served instead of serve
Neglect others
Not generous
Abandon their family to pursue their own SELF feeling good

Low SELF-esteem or SELF-worth - Humility is seeing your own SELF the way it actually is. Pride is not seeing your own SELF the way it actually is

Constantly thinking of their SELF and what others think about it
Feel inferior
Think they’re not worthy of a good spouse or job
Constantly dating abusive people
SELF-loathing
Believe that people don’t like them
Avoid successful or attractive people
Put their SELF down so that others affirm and build them up
Often say that they’re ugly
Make excuses for their nationality “but I’m of European descent”
Self-conscious for lack of education, beauty, social or economic status
Don’t share their shortcomings or needs

Depression - There are a lot of legitimate medical and traumatic reasons for depression. Focus on SELF and believing what’s not true about their SELF is a very common one. Pride is a major cause of depression for hundreds of millions of people (much more about why this is here, on the second list)

Shyness - this isn’t about introvert or extrovert

Overly concerned with others opinions of their SELF
Social isolation
Are afraid of not being liked
Are afraid of being criticized
Are afraid of being rejected again
Are afraid of embarrassing themselves

Highly Sensitive

Read into innocent remarks as demeaning, threatening or critical
Can’t laugh at themselves when they do something funny
Can’t accept good natured teasing
Have a hard time forgiving
Are offended when their idea, ability or motive is questioned
Quick to be angry

Envious - think that when others have things they don’t, it makes their SELF look bad. “For where there is jealousy and SELF-ishness, there is disorder and every evil practice...” ‭‭James‬ ‭3:16-17‬

Constantly compare themselves to others
Bothered when someone equal to them has success
Wants other people’s status symbols to make their SELF look better
Sabotage those close to them so good things or success won’t happen
Believe other people are envious of them

Pride of Appearance

Try really hard to impress people with their looks or physique - Synonyms - Narcissistic, SELF-love, Conceited, SELF-glorification, Egotistic, SELF-worship. “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom on account of your splendor...” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭28:17 Though it is important that we do the best with the hand we were dealt, especially for our spouse.

Feel their appearance gives their SELF more worth
Think their beauty makes their SELF superior to others
Flaunt their figure/physique so others will praise them
Spend excessive time on hair, clothing, weight, body shape to impress
Anorexia or bulimia
Work hard to avoid the appearance of aging
Often post photos or videos of themselves exercising
Spend excessive time for their SELF to look good while neglecting family

Two things to remember:

1. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just reporting the facts, ma'am. These signs of pride are what I found and copied down and then consolidated here for your reading pleasure. Most were on several of the lists.

2. If you only saw your SELF in a couple of places on this list, then you just have a little bit of cancer. You need to be desperate for treatment. Everyone is infected with Pride. Don't be okay with it. This is serious.

“But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the LORD was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiah’s reign." ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭32:26

“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. NOW my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:14-15‬

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:5

“But one who is humble, has a lowly spirit, will gain honor, wisdom, be exalted, shown favor, be listened to, receive grace” (free gifts that we don’t deserve or earn. Unmerited favor)‭ Proverbs‬ ‭3:34, 29:23‬, ‭11:2‬, James 4:5, 10, 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:14

Don’t Miss This. Super Important

“The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit - O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.” Psalm 51:17

God is not after your perfect behavior. He is after a humble spirit and a contrite heart. I looked up what the word “contrite” meant and it said, “repentant or remorseful”. When my wife and I read the list and saw ourselves on it in some places, we immediately pleaded with God to help us keep our pride down and be more humble. We don’t want it at all and we are really sorry that we have been so prideful for so long. And now we question ourselves all the time, “Is what I’m about to say or what I just said, prideful? Because we really don’t want to be prideful, even though we still act pridefully. But a lot less. This is exactly what God wants from us. A humble spirit and a contrite heart.

"For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.'" – Isaiah 57:15

Three Pride Illustrations

Fighter in the Ring

We are in a fight with Prideman, a 600 lb 1% body fat former Navy Seal, who has us by the ankles slamming us down over and over again. It’s a tag team match and God is reaching his hand in there for us to tag so he can fight for us, but he won’t tag us. But we keep on saying, “No, I’m alright God. I’ve got this, but would you mind helping me by squirting some water in my mouth next time around?” as Prideman keeps slamming us over and over again. There may be 21 of the pride categories where we don’t struggle, but one area where we do. I encourage you to be Humbleman and tag God’s hand to wage war for you in that category. “God, I’m ready for you to fight Prideman instead of me. I can’t do it. You need to take over completely.” That’s what humble people say.

My SELF says, “No, I can handle this! I just won’t be this way anymore! I’ll turn over a new leaf!” This always fails. Only God can change how I am … and He really, really wants to.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." – Matt. 11:28-29

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…" 1 Pet. 5:6

Pride Monster

Imagine you’re in a canoe and there is a big pride sea-monster that never stops chasing you and it wants to eat you and it’s coming up and down in the water chasing right behind you. So you paddle like crazy to not get bit. Imagine you paddle super hard for a long time and you get really far ahead of it and so you put down your paddle and kick up your feet and take a break. And that’s when the pride monster catches up to you and bites you hard.

Two Dogs

Two hungry dogs and only one dish of food. The dog who eats the most is the one who gets stronger and wins the fight. Pridedog is more aggressive and pushier than Humbledog and so pushes Humbledog out of the way and eats all of the food unless someone purposefully pulls back on Pridedog’s chain. That is when Humbledog eats all of the food and wins. Here are some things you can do to feed Humbledog.

Be thankful everyday by telling God 20 things you’re thankful for
Compliment little things you like about others around you
Learn about others. Practice asking people 5 questions. Maybe these. What’s your name? How long have you lived here? Why did you move here? What do you do? How did you get interested in that?
Share your pride struggles with people close to you and ask them to pray for you and to tell you when they see your signs of pride.

How Extreme Pride Slips In

Particularly for public figures like pastors, CEO’s, singers, athletes, actors and actresses, pride slips in subtly and undetected. And after several years of being innocently complimented and praised, we start believing things about our SELF (ego) that are over-inflated above what is actually true. And that view of our SELF begins to feel actual and normal. And then we say and do things so that others think as highly about us as we do. And we do that because we deeply believe that how highly we think about our SELF is accurate and true. We start thinking more about our own SELF than the SELFs of others around us. Did you know that the career with the highest rate of adultery is a pastor.

How Humility Happens to Hard People

They say that pride is the last thing to leave before a lot of people come to Christ. They’re tired of trying to fight it on their own and when they’ve tried everything else and have been humbled, then they turn to God. They say, “God, I’ve got a problem with pride and I’m asking that YOU wage war on it. I’ll stand aside. Please fight it for me.” Until a person gets to that point and is serious, Life’s not going to be easy. It usually takes losing a spouse, the kids, a job or a few nights in the car before someone raises their hand and says, “Hi, my name is Ronald McDonald and I’m a pride-a-holic and I need help.”

Self-Centered Churches and Man Boobs

I was listening to a non faith based marriage book the other day and the author said that Narcissism and Grandiosity (both forms of pride) are a huge problem in America. A lot of it started in the early 1970’s when personal trainers and tons of self help books became super common. “You can do it. You’ve got what it takes. You are worth it. There are no losers. We don’t keep score. We don’t give grades. Everybody wins and everybody passes.”

We clearly live in a self-centered (prideful) society. So how wouldn’t that not bleed into the church? Most churches rightly have the slogan “To know God and make him known”, but rarely do sermons magnify God. In other words, make God look bigger and clearer so we know him better. In my experience, there are more self-help type sermons about how to become a better Christian than there are about what God is like. Most songs are about us worshiping rather than about God being worshipped and stats say that only 2% of people have ever led someone to faith in Christ. Evangelism is a rare thing because not many are concerned about the SELF of others more than they are their own SELF. (More about this paragraph later.)

So if God is not very much the focus of our teachings nor our worship, then it makes sense that 85% of youth who grow up in church, stop going to church when they leave home. Because they don’t know very well what God is like, they don’t really like him that much. If they knew the God that I know, they would want 10 of him in their lives.

Essential Oils and Man Boobs

I recently read a study to my family that said Lavender and Tea Tree Oil probably cause man boobs to grow on prepubescent boys. My 10 year old son’s eyes got as big as saucers and we all started to laugh because we have Tea Tree and Lavender shampoo and conditioner out in the shower. He immediately stopped using it just in case the study were true.

So the question came up, since my wife is so into essential oils, why would anyone use those oils on prepubescent boys when there are hundreds of other scents that smell similar or do the same thing (if they even do anything)? Is the reward of what Tea Tree and Lavender give you worth the risk of man boobs? Why do anything even closely similar. And if a study said there were an essential oil that eventually would give you the strength and stamina and the heart of a stallion if you rub a drop on your chest once a week, you can bet I’d be slathering it on there every few days. If you knew for sure that it couldn’t hurt? Why wouldn’t you? But if it could possibly be the wrong thing to do, why even try it?

You can’t go wrong having a church that is focused on knowing and magnifying God each and every week in sermons and song, but you could go wrong focusing on our SELF most of the time and God sometimes.

I was talking with a worship leader from Canada and he agreed. He said we live in a society plagued with individualism. He said that if we went back in time a hundred years ago, people would think we were crazy and self-centered if we lived like we do now. But it’s become normal.

Self-Help Churches

So many churches have turned into Self Help Churches. “We won’t talk about your sin here because that would be telling you that you’re wrong or not in a good state. Instead, here are all of the things you can get out of God for your SELF if you accept Christ. You’ll be happier. You can go to Heaven. You can have an abundant life. You can be powerful, but I’m not saying that you’re not already powerful and really important, but you could be even more so if you give your life to Christ. You can be healthy. You can be wealthy. You can get peace, even in storms. And joy too. You can have a healthy community. Today can be the first day of the rest of your life. “I’ll see you at the top”. These are all good things you’ll learn in your Bible reading and in Bible study.

Heaven forbid we offend someone by telling them that they’re on the wrong team and in need of someone to save them from having to pay the penalty of their sin because they aren’t capable to do it by themselves. You would now be considered a toxic person.

And then, once they’re on the team, they hear, “Here’s how YOU can be a better Christian. How YOU can forgive more. How YOU can be kinder. Here’s how YOU can be more servantlike. How YOU can be more loving. How YOU can be more Christlike. Here’s how YOU can be more merciful. Here’s how YOU can be more filled with grace.” Here’s how you can have more faith. Here’s how you can get more power. Here are 5 steps to getting more out of the Holy Spirit. POWER. P - plead O - optimism W - weep E - earn it R - reward.

Self-Centered Songs

Note here: This seems logical to me, but I’m still not exactly sure what to think about this.

Here are definitions of Praise and Worship from the dictionary.

Praise - To express warm approval or admiration of (usually for an act).

Worship - The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.

If there were a music video of the “Praise and Worship” song we’re singing on Sunday morning, who would the camera be focused on most? Would it be focused on me on a mountaintop with my hands raised to Heaven as I talked about how I was singing to Him and how I can’t stop singing and how I raise my voice to do it and how nobody can stop me from singing? Would it be me looking into a mirror admitting that I am not worthy of Him? Me on my knees praying to God asking for strength and courage and endurance and more of his power and love in me? Or would it be focused on our all wise and patient God who is kind in all of his works and on our loving and compassionate Jesus on the cross and about how powerful of a creator he is. Or Is God sitting on his throne tapping his fingers saying to himself, “I wonder when I get a song”?

I analyzed the top 40 most sung songs in churches according to CCLI and highlighted the parts that magnified or talked about God’s attributes or character in some way. This is what I found.

9 songs - almost 100% focused on God.

10 songs - 50% of the words were about God and 50% about the worshiper.

12 songs - 25% of words were about God and 75% focused on the worshiper.

9 songs - mentioned God with only 3 to 8 words and focused on the worshiper with the rest.

There may be a place for a warm up song or two. A prayerful song. A song to get us into the right posture for Worshipping and Praising God. I’m not sure. But remember this, just because it’s on the radio doesn’t mean it’s a worship song. Because it’s a Psalm, doesn’t mean that is a worship song. Imagine singing “Break the teeth of my enemies, oh God” in church. It’s just a nice song that God inspired them to write to build up and encourage believers. We can worship in a lot of ways, like in giving money, working hard etc. Sometimes, even a secular song will get me focused on God and I’ll worship Him in that. But like the essential oils, if there are so many hundreds of songs that magnify and praise God, why not pick one of those instead of the warm up songs? There is no way we could go wrong singing songs about all of the things that we love about God. But WHAT IF God considers our ME songs as self-centered? What if he does tap his fingers while we sing to ourselves?

2nd list with more explanation and links to articles

Pride of Spirituality

Appearing Really Spiritual

People should be spiritually minded. God loves that. It’s the way we’re supposed to be. But when we want everybody to recognize and talk about and praise us for how spiritually minded we are, that’s not good. So we say and do things for the purpose of reinforcing that we’re spiritual, in their minds. The only people Jesús was publicly against were those who did and said things so that people would think they were spiritual. The Pharisees prayed fancy prayers, made it obvious they were fasting, let everyone know when they tithed etc. so that their image (SELF or ego) would be raised up in the eyes of everyone around them. And then praised for being so spiritual.

Rejection of Material Possessions

Rejection of Material Possessions Sometimes with good intentions, people think that God is pleased when we don’t have things of value. Righteous living. And then in their pride can say, “If only those materialistic people were as righteous as I”.

Reject money, fame, joy or pleasure (also called Asceticism) monks (vows of poverty), clergy, pastors, theologically trained and missionaries are infamous for this, while humble people accept God’s blessings as a reward from Him. “I gave up a really high paying corporate job to do this ministry”.
Brag about how few possessions they have or how humbly they live so that people will recognize they are not materialistic and therefore very spiritual.
Embarrassed or make excuses about owning nice things or big houses.
Look down their noses at the rich or at those who have a lot of nice things
Excessively generous partially out of obedience to what God has put on their hearts to do and partially for the purpose of confirming in people’s minds that they aren’t eating mammon for breakfast and are still spiritually minded. They reject God’s rewards or gifts to them and think that that shows their commitment to God. “Dang, that guy sure is committed to God. I don’t think I could do or live like that.”

Churchy Language and Prayers

Spiritualize everything

They only talk about spiritual things so that people will think they’re spiritual.
Prideful people spruce up their public prayers with churchy vocabulary or higher volume that they never use when talking to God alone, to make sure people recognize that they’re spiritual. We’re not talking about people who pray and are passionate and their heart and personality come out while praying. Be careful not to judge one’s heart. But if prayers are changed so that those listening are impressed with us and think, “That guy is a real spiritual man. He sure can pray”, then that’s always pride.
Practice their public prayers
Prideful people often speak differently, use a different accent or voice or put on a different face or behavior to help people recognize that they’re spiritual. Walking and pacing and flailing the arms is not wrong if it’s for presentation or for a purpose. Again, be careful not to think you can judge the thoughts and intents of someone else’s heart. Only God can do that.
They think they’re more spiritual than spouses and church members.

False Humility

Prideful people fake their humility. They try extra hard to be humble for the purpose of people thinking that they’re humble so they’ll be praised for being so humble. A very humble friend of mine, who serves everybody ahead of himself, confessed to me that every once in a while he does something really selfless and servant-like and walks away saying to himself, “I bet they think I’m pretty humble”. That’s not True Humility. It’s called False Humility. It’s just a matter of the heart.

Prideful put themselves down as if they are lower than everybody else. This may even flow from a genuine desire for humility, but humility is seeing your SELF the way you accurately are. Pride is seeing your SELF NOT the way you actually are.
Treat themselves badly - “I am not worthy” or “I’m a loser”.
Prideful people don’t easily accept compliments. They put one hand in front of you like they’re stopping traffic and with the other they point to the heavens while vigorously shaking their head and mouthing the words, “No no no - God, God”. If someone says that to you, you can say to them, “That really seemed like it was all you. If it had been God, then it would have been WAY better than that”. Their pride wants those watching to say, “Whoa, that guy is humble. He must be really spiritual”. The right response would be to say something that is actually true, “Thank you. That was very kind of you to say. God has given everybody gifts and I believe this is what he gave me”. Or, “It’s easy to do good work when God surrounds me with some great people.” or “Thank you for the kind words. Mom and Dad made me take lessons for years and years.”
Prideful people skillfully brag in a humble way. “Can you believe how great God is. They asked me to speak at the Prayer Breakfast again.” or “Please pray for my church. We don’t know how to handle all of the growth.” They brag about their work, accomplishments, ministry, earnings etc. because if they just flat out bragged about their SELF, they wouldn’t look too spiritual.
Prideful people tell you they’re humble and say, “In my humble opinion”.
Only confess insignificant sins - Prideful people confess little sins and say things like, “I really struggle with coveting my neighbor’s old Toyota Land Cruiser everytime I drive by their house.” As if that’s as bad as their sin gets, so you think they’re spiritual.
They take a lot of pleasure in SELF-rightness feelings of being morally superior to most other Christians, which makes them feel better about their own failings.

Pride of Knowledge

They try really hard to make sure people think they’re smart

“The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.”

Unteachable

I asked a friend of mine, who wanted to start a church, if he had considered formally studying the Bible. He looked at me and asked, “But what could I learn?” He felt he knew everything already.

Prideful people say they don’t need to be trained or educated because that would mean their SELF wasn’t capable enough to be successful without someone’s help. Prideful people want to say, “I became a successful and accomplished self-made man by myself. I didn’t need anyone to teach me anything because I’m that smart or capable. I’m sure you’re impressed with me”.
Prideful people think they have all the answers to life and somehow don’t need or see the value in other people’s perspectives.
They are know-it-all’s and say, “I already knew that”.
They are highly opinionated and argumentative.
Use big words knowing that they will probably have to explain what they mean.
Irritated if someone tries to teach them something because that makes their SELF feels ignorant.

Not Genuinely Interested in Other People

They don’t ask questions to learn about people because they aren’t interested in other people more than they’re interested in their own SELF. So why would they want to know how many kids a person has, if their parents are still alive, what parts of work they enjoy or their favorite past times?
Dominate conversations with talk of themselves or about the subject at hand to impress you so you think they’re smart.
Though credentials and titles are sometimes necessary to establish authority so they’ll listen to or negotiate with you, prideful people insist on a lofty title or talk a lot about their credentials so that others will be more impressed and think more highly of them.

Poor Listeners

Interrupt people mid-sentence. I once knew a con-man who used to regularly interrupt me and say, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to interrupt but…” And he conned me.
Hear out people’s ideas and nod their head, with no intention of using their idea.
Finish others’ sentences or say, “I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to say….”
Open their mouth kind of and make slight noises with their lips and act like they’re going to start talking so you stop talking so they can start. If you pause mid-thought to take a breath, they start talking.
Assume they know all there is about the subject and so tune out
Don’t listen to those they lead
Prideful people listen to others just to see if they can fix them or bless and impress them with their wisdom and knowledge.

Argumentative

Prideful people argue strange, new or uncommonly held beliefs or doctrines and argue them well so that people are impressed with their intellect.

They get the last word
Prideful people don’t discuss their differences with the hope of possibly learning something. They argue to show how much they know.
Prideful people don’t hesitate confronting someone to say what they think is right.
They can’t handle being wrong.
Argue and hold to strange or uncommonly held beliefs. To show that they can argue and should be respected for their ability to argue. Flat Earth, The Millenium has already past. Moon landing was fake. Note: There are exceptions though. Like I genuinely believe in Bigfoot. There’s just too much evidence. And I once saw Nessie’s shadow in Loch Ness from way up high, but my wife doesn’t believe me.

Critical

Helpful or constructive criticism is used by God in our lives to build us up and make us more fruitful. And a lot of people can be critical only because they want to help us improve. The key is how we deliver that criticism and that we do it sparingly. We need to ask ourselves, “Would it make a difference if I critique this?” If it won’t, then just let it go. A good practice is to ask permission to give the criticism, “Would you like a thought about how to make that even better?”

Unnecessary criticism is just mean. It tears down, doesn’t help and makes people feel bad. It is usually based in poor self-worth and shame. Prideful people measure themselves against others. When someone near them does a good thing, it makes their SELF feel inferior, and so they tear them down for no reason other than to make their SELF feel better. When we put the spotlight on other’s flaws, that’s a defense that puts the shortcomings of our SELF in the shadows.

Quick to correct or criticize their spouse, kids, pastor, teacher, youth pastor or others in leadership positions.
Negative all the time. Complain a lot about the weather, their health, circumstances, job, church.
Tear others down by joking or teasing harshly
Always give the punishment deserved instead of showing mercy

Pride of Power

Thinking that they’re more important than others or trying to make sure people think they’re capable.

Pride and a Controlling Nature

Here is a comprehensive article full of psychobabble about why the need to control, feel superior and be mean to others is such a huge sign of pride.http://mindrenewal.us/page6.html

Control

Control is trying to give yourself security. But remember, you are one cancer cell away from being in control.

Prideful people control their spouse, children, friends and co-workers.
Prideful parents create dependent children by providing everything for them and not letting them suffer the consequences of their irresponsible actions. They want to keep them around to be needed. A form of control.
Prideful people manipulate to get their way by throwing their wedding ring across the room or throw some sort of tantrum whether it’s really quiet or really loud. They try to condition you to go with their idea everytime.
Prideful people say it’s my way or no way. They threaten to boycott the trip or activity by saying, “Nevermind, I don’t even want to go now” if they don’t get their way.
They purposefully drive slow in the fast lane so they have control, not considering that the person behind them who may have an urgent matter.

Legalistic

Legalism is when a really religious sounding person or people crave for their SELF to be respected and praised through power and control. They force their own questionable or easily debatable standards and rules on their followers. When people obey them, it makes their SELF feel good. “It’s sin to wear shorts like that or eat pork or watch movies that have magic in them or drink beer or work on Sunday or smoke cigars or play poker or say ‘darn or gosh’ or get a tattoo or pierce your nose or read any version of the Bible other than the King James Version or or…. This form of Pride has kept more people away from God than maybe any other. I know so many people raised in legalistic homes who now, as adults, mock Christians and try to keep people from God.

Spiritually abusive people like this understand that Christians won’t follow an arrogant obviously proud person. So they cloak it in religious churchy language and weak and inconsistent biblical justifications. If it’s not black and white in the New Testament, then we are to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, but the legalistic leader wants us to follow their leading instead. They argue it relentlessly so you’ll obey and they’ll be dominant and their SELF will feel important and be praised.

They misinterpret and misuse the Bible to justify their rules, but their real interest is being right or having control.
They don’t want their kids to look rebellious on the outside because they think that reflects bad on their own SELF and then they will look bad. It’s about appearing spiritual rather than being spiritual.

They force their own questionable or easily debatable standards and rules on their followers. When people obey them, it makes their SELF feel good. “It’s sin to wear shorts like that or eat pork or watch movies that have magic in them or drink beer or work on Sunday or smoke cigars or play poker or say ‘darn or gosh’ or get a tattoo or pierce your nose

Submission

Prideful people don’t submit easily and rebel against their leaders, spiritual or secular and falsely see it as a weaker position. God as our leader. Wives against their husbands; children against their parents; employees against their bosses; citizens against their government. They believe they can make better decisions than the leader in their lives. And they often can, but it’s not about that.

It’s not about the best decision, but it’s about being a faithful follower. It’s important that we share our ideas and wisdom and concerns with those in authority over us and then help make their decision into the best decision.

Leadership needs to say, “I’ve heard your idea and their idea. We’re going with their idea. It may not be the best idea, but let’s make it into the best idea. The leader needs to be humble and listen to those they lead, especially when their initial thought wasn’t as good as someone else’s.

Prideful people don’t like being told what to do. This doesn’t mean to not question or share wisdom with our leaders, but without a fight, submit.

Hungry for Attention

Prideful people get hurt and resent it if they aren’t made mention of and recognized for their accomplishments, acts of service or selflessness. They say and do things for attention and say or do things so that people take great notice of them and regard them highly and talk about them when they’re not there.

Prideful people lie. They don’t just embellish a story to make it more entertaining but flat out lie with numbers and circumstances to make their SELF look better.

Self Reliance

Fearful and worry a lot. They put more faith in their plans and ability to take care of themselves than in God to take care of them. And therefore live in fear that their plans will fail. Shows our lack of trust in God and our self-reliance because we are hugely preoccupied with our SELF and don’t have control.
Say they depend on God, but they don’t. They depend on their own abilities.
They hate to rely on others because they believe that help to accomplish something is a sign of weakness.
Don’t often say thank you to God or man, because that would be admitting they needed help and won’t get total credit.
Willing to help others, but not accept help in the same area they helped
Don’t need to pray much because they don’t think they need the help, grace or guidance
Don’t think they need God’s help, direction, grace, courage or hope. So why pray?

Take Credit for Things

Prideful people lie to take credit for things they didn’t do.
Prideful people don’t give compliments or credit to people who deserve it because they think it makes them look bad in contrast.
Don’t like to share praise with others
Prideful people don’t need to pray because that would mean God did it and they wouldn’t get credit for it.
Prideful people shoot down other people’s good ideas because it wasn’t their own and even condition others to eventually stop sharing ideas. They make fun of them or roll their eyes or tell them that they are not wise for saying that.

Workaholic

Prideful people are serve or work obsessed, addicted to power and control in a compulsive drive to gain approval and public recognition of success. They believe that their SELF or image, the prestige and status and general emotional well-being they get from being praised for their work or service, is so much more important than the SELF or emotional well-being of their spouse and kids.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-workaholics/201112/understanding-the-dynamics-workaholism%3famp

Prideful people in leadership positions don’t delegate as often as they should because no one can do it as well or as quickly as they could.

Crave Importance

Prideful people feel and believe that value is added to their SELF because of their status or accomplishments. They feel that they are worth more by doing or appearing a certain way.

Purposefully make people wait on them. They seem to enjoy the power of everyone waiting for them. They are regularly late for appointments and meetings that can’t start without them. They like feeling control even though they know they’re causing others to fall behind in their own schedules or are keeping them from important matters. I know a con man who regularly made his wife wait in the car for lunch, sometimes up to three hours beyond when they had agreed. His wife told my wife, “He’s the proudest man I know”.

Overachiever Pride

Sometimes when a child didn’t feel unconditionally loved by their parents or guardians just for who they were, but only for how they performed, then life is a competition to not just do their best, but to do things better than everybody else so they can prove that they are worthy of the love of their parents and friends.

Low Self Esteem

True humility isn’t thinking less of your SELF, but thinking of your SELF less. Here is a great psychobabble article about why low self esteem and depression is a huge sign of pride.

Humility is seeing your SELF the way it actually is. Knowing what is true about who you are. If you are a naturally gifted musician or have become excellent at tennis through years of hard work, then it’s right to acknowledge that because those are things that are true about your SELF. If humble people are not very good at managing people or not very coordinated or don’t have much fashion sense, they are comfortable admitting it because it’s true about their SELF.

Pride is NOT seeing your SELF the way it actually is. Not believing what is accurate and true. If you’re a physically attractive person but tell everyone that you’re ugly or if you have a very likable personality but say that people don’t like you, then that is pride because it isn’t true. Prideful people who aren’t very good at coming up with creative marketing ideas or who are clearly not very good at leading people, won’t stop insisting that they are and are offended if someone speaks the truth to them. Prideful people don’t believe what is true about their SELF.

Won’t ask for forgiveness because that would mean that their SELF isn’t great and was wrong and they are okay living in that sin of not asking for forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness is not dependent on the other person admitting their wrongs too.
Lie about accomplishments and sometimes not just kind of lie, but they lie almost beyond belief. They are desperate for us to think highly of them.

Embarrassed easily

Embarrassment is a sign that pride is being attacked.

Prideful people think they’re above doing lowly tasks and immediately think, “I, of all people, shouldn’t have to do that. That task is for someone lower than myself.”
Prideful people fear people seeing them doing lowly tasks because they fear that others will think they must not be very powerful or important if they have to do a lowly task.
Prideful people wait to be served and don’t often serve others because they don’t think of others as more important than themselves.
Prideful people think they’re better than others. This one can be hard to detect because a person can appear to be humble and caring on the outside.
Prideful people are easily offended when others question their motives or ability to do something. They say, “Don’t you trust me” or “Don’t you think I know what I’m doing?”
Depression - Always thinking about the bad condition of their own SELF

Envy

When the prince of a kingdom chooses a princess from a neighboring kingdom to be his bride, everybody is happy for her. Nobody is envious. If the prince chooses a local girl from his kingdom to be his bride, then envy is strong from all of the other local girls in the kingdom.

Envy is the feeling of discontent or resentful longing for somebody else’s career, good looks, talent, job promotion, wisdom, fame, social position, spirituality, character, sense of humor, wealth, possessions or other status symbols or positive qualities. By having those things, they think they’ll show everybody that the lie they have slowly come to believe about their SELF is true. It is especially hard on them when someone who is their equal rises above them economically or in social standing.

Prideful people believe others are envious of them because “wouldn’t everybody be envious of what I’ve got?”
Prideful are envious when the spotlight is on someone they feel they are superior to. Then they whisper to the person next to them, “They’re not all that”.
Prideful people sabotage other people’s work or don’t use someone else’s good idea because they think that if that person is praised, then they will look lesser.

Materialism

Prideful people try to impress with their success by showing us their possessions.

Prideful people are not generous with their money. They are SELF-ish and would rather use their money to buy things that they feel validate their untrue feelings of who they are.

Defensiveness

Think the best defense is a great offense when their SELF feels attacked (when their pride is hurt).
They condition people to NEVER confront them again by attacking them back with their past mistakes or failures so it takes the focus off of the prideful person’s problem.
Prideful people make up excuses when they’re corrected or criticized.
Prideful people say things like, “Everybody makes mistakes” or “you make mistakes too” when they have no choice but to accept blame.

Depression

There are a lot of legitimate medical and traumatic reasons for depression. Focus on SELF and believing what’s not true about their SELF, is a common reason. Pride is a major cause of depression for millions of people.

Shyness

We can be wired as introverts purposefully by God from birth. This isn’t about introverts or extroverts

Prideful people are very shy. They are overly concerned with others’ opinions of them which is usually a reflection of being obsessed with self.
Prideful people don’t invite people to their home because it’s not nice enough or they can’t afford to entertain big.
Prideful people have a hard time sharing their real spiritual needs or other junk because they’re afraid they won’t be liked anymore.
Prideful people fear what people will think of them and are overly consumed with man’s opinion of their SELF which is usually a sign of obsession with self.
Prideful people don’t like reaching out and being friendly at church or in other social settings.

Pride of Appearance

They try really hard to make sure people think they’re valuable and they believe their SELF is more valuable if it looks good

Arrogance, Immodesty, Narcissism, Pomposity, Pride, Self-Importance, Self-Love, Self-regard, smugness, swagger, self-admiration, self-exaltation, swelled head, conceited, display, pretension, self-worship, show, ostentation,

We should take healthy pride in our appearance and do the best with what we’ve got and for our spouse. Dignity is a good thing. But this is not:

Understanding Why We Have Pride and How it Works

God wants us to be proud of our work or family or to try the best with what we’ve got. And when we’re recognized and affirmed for doing well, it feels good and right. That’s healthy pride. The apostle Paul said that he was “proud” of some of the early churches.

When we’re supported, protected and affirmed growing up, then that builds a solid firm structure or base inside of us. It gives us a STRONG ego, or good sense of what’s true about our SELF. It’s a good and healthy thing. If we weren’t supported, protected and affirmed, then we often develop a BIG ego. And that’s no bueno. Since a strong floor or structure wasn’t built up inside of us to tell us what our SELF is accurately worth, we have to guess at our value or worth.

So we try to build up or inflate our SELF to where we think a healthy place should be, but usually over-inflate or prop it up way higher than what is accurate by saying and doing things to show others what we’ve guessed is accurate about us. And that’s when the praise and worship of us starts and that makes us think that what we believe about our SELF is true. Pride can even distort our mind to think that even our junk is good and right.

Conclusion

I really hope this list and explanation has helped you understand what pride really looks like and has given you a desire to not have it in your life. And remember, don’t shoot the messenger.

Your cart is empty

The Signs of Pride List

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS HONESTLY

MY SAD PRIDE STORY

4 SIGNS OF PRIDE CATEGORIES

YOU ARE TRULY HUMBLE IN MANY SUB-CATEGORIES

THE MASTER SIGNS OF PRIDE LIST

Pride of Knowledge

Pride of Spirituality

Pride of Power

Pride of Appearance

END OF SIGNS OF PRIDE LIST

PRIDE AND HUMILITY DEFINED

SELF

NEW SELF vs OLD SELF

HEART

GOOD PRIDE

WATCH FOR THIS IN THE BIBLE

THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE

BUT WHAT IF I’M ALREADY PRETTY HUMBLE?

HOW TO READ THIS

HOW TO DEVELOP A HUMBLE HEART TODAY

HUMBLE PRAYERS

GOD DEMANDS THE IMPOSSIBLE?

HUMILITY - THE ANTI-VENOM TO PRIDE

INWARD AND OUTWARD SIGNS OF A HUMBLE HEART

REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT

THE MARKS OF A HUMBLE AND A PRIDEFUL CHURCH

EVANGELISM

WELCOMING

Image Management or Just a Humble Heart?

Ask Consecutive Connected Questions

SINGING

PRAYER

TEACHING

BENEFITS OF A HUMBLE HEART

PROSPERITY

HONOR

WISDOM

SAFETY AND PROTECTION

CLOSENESS WITH GOD

GOD TEACHES HIS WAY TO BE HUMBLE

ANSWERED PRAYERS

ANSWERED PRAYERS BY FASTING

EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE FASTING AND PRAYER

HUMBLING + FASTING = ANSWERS

ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ASK FOR

EFFECTIVE FASTING

WITH CONFESSION AND A CHANGE OF HEART TO HUMBLE

INEFFECTIVE FASTING IS WITHOUT A HUMBLE HEART

GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD

PRIDE OF POWER

PRIDE OF SELF RELIANCE

LACK OF SUBMISSION

PRIDE OF SUPERIORITY

PRIDE OF WEALTH, SUCCESS AND TALENT

PRIDE OF BEAUTY

PRIDE OF SPIRITUALITY

PRIDE OF INTELLIGENCE

PRIDE TURNS PEOPLE AGAINST GOD

GOD HUMBLES OPPRESSIVE PEOPLE

GOD HUMBLES THE COCKY

GOD HUMBLES THE GREEDY

WHY GOD HUMBLES US

TO MAKE US OR KEEP US CHRISTLIKE

Hebrews 12:1-12 Toughen up buttercup. God is perfecting our faith through discipline because He loves us.

TO SPUR ON EVANGELISM

TO BLESS US

TO TEST US

SO THAT GOD IS PRAISED, THANKED AND HONORED

FOR PEACE

FOR OUR CHILDREN

TO RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

TO PUNISH AND CORRECT SIN

TO KEEP US ALIVE

WAYS TO HUMBLE YOUR OWN SELF BEFORE GOD DOES

BY BEING THANKFUL

BY FASTING

It is a physical expression of inner humility

BY PRAYER