A short devotional about how pride can get in the way of personal growth.

The pride in our lives will guarantee ruin and destruction. Many years ago I was singing at a packed church. I was new in coming before a congregation to benefit God’s plan to always bring salvation. As I was singing, I felt there was something really wrong in the atmosphere. The people had very stony faces!

After the service there was a brief gathering where many people came up to me and I gladly received their praises. Still I sensed something was not right. As I rode home I asked God about what had just happened. I was expecting Him to agree with me that the “people” were not okay. Instead, He said to me, “You have a heart problem.” I was taken back but knew instantly what He meant. I did not have a physical heart problem; however, I did have a problem with the heart that goes much deeper. I was expecting glory and admiration when He is the one who gets the glory and honor. I am just a vessel that He is willing to use.

So God pointed out to me with His usual, good-natured humor that I still wanted palm branches waved in front of me and cries of hosannas as I rode by! This is heart wrenching, gut truth that I am ashamed to admit. So the spirit of pride can roam around freely, if allowed. Even though we can love the Lord and want to please Him, an ostrich like this can get in the way.

I can want to be popular and liked instead of wanting to see people saved, captives set free, the blind given sight . . . The Holy Spirit must be allowed to pull these things out of us so that we can surrender to every “earful” He gives in preparation to go boldly into all the earth on His behalf.