Avoiding Disgrace And Destruction

Pride is a very destructive sin.  It enables us to believe that if we put ourselves in charge of knowing and sorting out our lives, we will be just fine.  God's word has some things to say about pride. 

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a foolish person than for him.  (Proverbs 11:2, 16:18 NLT 26:12 NIV)

What are some faces of pride I might recognize in myself?

When we come to God for help, healing and guidance, we will find that God has gifts for us that will build character, rather than things that will keep us in bondage to familiar character defects.  We must be willing to admit that we don't know what real help looks like for us.  We must acknowledge, that living independently from God is sin, and that God really does know what we need. 

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT)

We must ask God for His help and receive what He is giving. We can't ask for help just once and be done with it. We must be persistent and ask repeatedly, and receive repeatedly as the need arises, until the work of changing whatever needs changed is complete. 

Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.  For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.  (Luke 11:9-10 AMP)