"Becoming Small"

"I cried to Thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication." (Psalms 30:8) Do you understand the concept of "pride cometh before the fall"? If we understand the concept of needing God desperately to have victory in our lives, then where does pride fit into that equation? Prayerlessness!!! Don't you see the pride in not needing God's guidance, protection, intervention, mercy, and His Holy Spirit to fill you in everything that you do, and every day of your life? If you really do want to have victory over your flesh, then cry out to God for the victory! You are not going to stand up to the devil on your own, I don't care how strong you think that you are, he is stronger; however, He that is in us is mighty, and the devil has no chance against Him! Okay, here's an interesting concept to consider about that unthankful and unforgiving servant from Matthew 18:21-35, and what it was that motivated him to not forgive his fellow servant; was it the money that he insisted on that caused him to act that way, or was it pride? Pride might seem like the wrong motivator; that is until you consider how pride can make us feel as though we no longer have need for mercy! The parable that Jesus gave was in answer to Peter's question about how many times he should forgive his brother. In the interest of time, let's just pretend that we understand the question Peter was asking, and move onto the answer that Jesus illustrated, which pretty much was the question back to Peter, How many times do you want to be forgiven? In the parable, the king forgave the servants debt entirely; meaning that the servant really had no further need to be forgiven of the debt, because the debt had been removed. And then enters the pride; because pride lifts us up above others, it makes us to feel superior, and it takes away our need to seek mercy; and if we are not seeking mercy, we do not give out mercy! If we are not earnestly praying to God for His help, then what does that say about our security and confidence in ourselves to get through our day? You see the concept now! Pride does come before the fall, because pride makes us feel as though we can take on the world... "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:19-21)