Put Away Pride
Thursday, September 19
Put Away Pride
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Romans 12:14
Pride often keeps us from resolving conflict. We want to be right. We want to win the argument. But Scripture teaches us to choose humility instead. Sometimes, resolving conflict means admitting our own wrongs, even if the other person doesn’t. It means valuing the relationship and the person more than we value our pride. When we humble ourselves before God and others, we reflect the humility of Christ, who valued us above Himself.
Remember, God will fight for your justice. He will be your protector and defender. Leave those heavy needs at the foot of the cross, and come follow the way of your Savior. The only path to experiencing the fullness of abundant life is choosing to bless your enemies instead of fighting with them. We can get over ourselves by putting pride to the side.
When you think about the situation, ask yourself these two questions:
- Is pride keeping me from resolving this conflict?
- How can I take a humble step today towards reconciliation?
Here are two verses to get you started
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”— Philippians 2:3
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44
God’s path to peace and joy is founded on the concept of grace. When you choose to bless others, even if they don’t deserve it, you are choosing to live your life in light of eternity. You have been forgiven and offered grace not because you deserved it, but by the mercy and love of your heavenly Father. Follow the example and teaching of Jesus today, live your life in obedience to his word, and experience the fruit of choosing to bless everyone around you regardless of how they treat you.
Prayer for today: Jesus, You call me to love my enemies and pray for those who hurt me. I confess that this is hard for me to do. But I trust in Your strength to help me live out this radical love. Soften my heart and teach me to love as You love. Amen.