Be Poor in Spirit...and JOYfully Put Away Pride

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Let’s not get prideful as we drink it!

            Though we want to “do everything as unto the Lord” and strive to do the best we can in every area of our lives, we don’t want to become prideful. There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we feel about a job well done. The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin, and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him.

               Psalm 10:4 explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks.  We should strive to be “poor in spirit”…That means to recognize our spiritual bankruptcy and our inability to come to God aside from His divine grace. ( http://www.gotquestions.org/pride-Bible.html)

            So often we stumble because of prideful thoughts.  If we do not identify pride as a stumbling block to our spiritual growth, we will fall face first into destruction.  Pride is something that EACH and every one of us has to deal with….no matter how young or old, rich or poor, no matter which church (or if) we attend.  Proverbs tells us that pride breeds quarrels (13:10), leads to disgrace (11:2), punishment (16:5), destruction (16:18) and ends in downfall (18:12). 

            May each of us be “poor in spirit” as we put away pride, so that we will inherit the kingdom of God!  What a JOYful day that will be!