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

Injured pride is a tough lesson for the Christian. The earlier this lesson is learned, the better it is to deal with life.

What is the best way to deal with pride? Doing a study on how God views pride should be the first place we start. Noah Webster’s definition helps us to see more clearly:

Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

This is a great definition and sums it all up! When we see ourselves as better than we truly are, we set ourselves up for a huge disappointment. We are so filled with our own high and mighty thoughts, we don’t see the dangers before us. In other words, rather than take our matters to God first, we take matters into our own hands because we think we have a handle on it. This is how we get ourselves into trouble.

If you struggle with pride, remember that one day you will be brought down to the level you truly belong, and maybe even lower. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. (1 Samuel 2:3) Continuing to be arrogant and prideful will only set you up for defeat. God sees where you truly are and how you think of yourself – He will weigh your actions. When the time comes where you are brought down, your pride will force you to think that you are suffering as a Christian. But God’s holy word says, For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. (1 Peter 2:20) You’re suffering because of your sinful pride, not because you did something right for the Lord. You must recognize the difference and see God’s chastisement as His way of teaching humbleness. Whenever you study a particular sin, there is a virtue that goes along with it. In this case, humbleness.

It is better to learn to be humble and meek now instead of waiting for God to deal with you and you and bring you to shame. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2) Get in the Bible where the teaching is pure – there are so many verses dealing with pride and humbleness. Recognize that your pride is sin in the eyes of God. An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. (Proverbs 21:4) Confess this sin and ask the Holy Spirit of God to pierce your heart and teach you the beautiful virtues of humbleness and meekness.

Pride drives you to greater sin. The Lord says that pride will stir up trouble and that you are a fool. Proverbs 28:25-26, He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. (25) He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (26) Is this what you want for your life? The Christian who is striving to grow in Christ produces the fruit of the Spirit. Pride is not listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit; however meekness is (Galatians 5:22).

It’s always best to learn any lesson early on because the longer you remain in any given sin, the harder you will fall. Is it not so with your own children? If they disobey you once, the punishment is minimal. The more then continue to disobey, the harsher the punishment, right? Can you expect any less from your Heavenly Father? So you ask, “I thought today’s devotional was going to be on injured pride? I thought I would learn how to deal with it.” If you look deep within yourself, you will see that your pride was injured because you thought more of yourself than you should have. Dealing with injured pride is learning to be humble. Recognizing pride in one’s life is a step in the right direction.  The next step is to repent of that sin and replace it with the virtue of humbleness. It would make a wonderful word study in your Bible