This morning I picked two Bible verses while reading to journal on.(search my blog for Soap to find out more on the method of reading and journaling I enjoy)

S (scripture-fancy word for Bible)- Proverbs 13:10,”Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. “
Proverbs 13:13,”People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.”( these are from the NLT-new living translation)

O (observation)- pride leads to trouble, friction and conflict.  Accepting advice or a command is wise.

A (application)-  Pride can sometimes be blatantly obvious especially to others around us but it is often not obvious to the one exhibiting the pride.  In one of my favorite books, Mere Christianity, C.S Lewis writes an entire chapter on pride.  He calls it the great sin.  He says, “it was through pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is complete anti-God state of mind.”  This is a profound chapter that I often return to.  It hits home and challenges me.  Often when anger rises in me it is likely linked to pride.  Do I feel wronged?  Do I feel like I don’t deserve that treatment?  Their mistreatment then makes me prideful as I begin to think “I would never do that”.  What a lie that is.  Pride is so subtle and sneaky as it creeps into my life.

Lewis says, “There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious in ourselves.  And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.”  Ouch.

He then go onto say, “It is the comparsion that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.” This is so true.  Because when I am hurt, I can often think “man, they’re a jerk.  I’m so glad I am not a jerk like that or I would never do that.”  He says the first step in battling pride is to realize you are proud.

Proverbs says pride leads to conflict.  That is because it is my pride that makes me angry and want to go to battle to show them that I am right and they are wrong.  It is my pride that says “my way or the highway.”  The proverb talks about taking advice as wise.  Accepting advise requires a humble heart because my prideful heart wants to lie to me and tell me that I don’t need advise especially from so and so. 🙂

P (prayer)-  Dear Jesus,  help me to recognize the subtle pride that creeps in.  Help me to recognize it before it leads to conflict and anger.  Help me to be open to advise and correction.  Help me to stay focused onYou and things above(good things) instead of allowing pride to cause me to look down on things and people. Help me to look up.