MY NAME IS PRIDE

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."  (Proverbs 16:18)

The story is told of two ducks and a frog who lived happily together in a farm pond. The best of friends, the three would amuse themselves and play together in their waterhole. When the hot summer days came, however, the pond began to dry up, and soon it was evident they would have to move. This was no problem for the ducks, who could easily fly to another pond. But the frog was stuck. So it was decided that they would put a stick in the bill of each duck that the frog could hang onto with his mouth as they flew to another pond. The plan worked well--so well, in fact, that as they were flying along a farmer looked up in admiration and mused, "Well, isn't that a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it?" The frog said, "I did..."   

The perfect example of "Pride going before a Fall"... LITERALLY :)

That unruly monster we call "PRIDE" rears it's ugly head so often in my life.  Am I the only one that seems to struggle SO with this particular sin?  

How many times have we missed out on "God's Best" for our lives... because of our own selfish pride?  How many times have we missed out on special friendships because of pride?  How many times have we failed to say "I'm sorry" and receive the forgiveness of others because of our pride?

God has a way of speaking to us and getting our attention... and today He did that very thing.  I am a huge "Beth Moore" fan and while reading a few of her articles that I had tucked away for "another time"... I came across this poem and read:

My Name Is Pride

~Beth Moore

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment…

because you “deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge…

because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing…

because you are too full of you to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness…

because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.

I cheat you of vision…

because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship…

because nobody’s going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love…

because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…

because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory…

because I convinced you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.

Untrue.

I’m looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…

If you stick with me you’ll never know.

Thank you Lord for those tender lessons you send "screaming" into my heart!

God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.

Dwight L. Moody