From Hopscotch to Holiness

74 From Hopscotch To HolinessPRIDE MAY BE OUR DOWNFALLProverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction.” Pride may be ourdownfall. Often, we need healing from the independence and pridethat hinder our walk with the Lord. Pride may be at the root of both aninflated ego and a damaged, frail ego. Pride is so pervasive that eitherway we tend to fall into a preoccupation with our performance. Whenour walk with Christ is performance-based, we will always lack peace inour relationship with the Lord.Consider the example of Peter in Matthew 26 when Jesus predictsPeter’s denial. Peter boldly proclaims, “Even if all fall away on accountof you, I never will.” Before we’re too quick to judge Peter’s pride inthis situation, think about the ways you’ve thought or said, “I’ll neverdo that.” For example, if your family of origin displayed some hurtful,unhealthy behaviors, you may have made a vow, “I’ll never be like that.”Unfortunately, that may be just the place you fall into bondage.Pride can also be demonstrated in false humility. We have a very frailego. Because we’ve been wounded, we find it difficult to receive a truecompliment. Instead, our old self will constantly tell us we’re not valuable.We believe something is wrong with us. We always feel personallyinadequate. Pride is at the root of that thinking because ultimately it isall about me. But we can find healing from the damage done by pride.Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damageno longer controls our lives.I love the honesty of the Scriptures. Remember Moses’ call to confrontPharaoh. (Exodus 4:10-14) Moses had an extreme case of feelings ofinadequacy. He was immobilized in ministry. In addition, consider Paul’squandary in Romans 7 when he bemoans the dilemma of the strugglewith his old nature. In each example, prayer and healing is the answer,