“I’m not prideful!” That was my self-estimation when I would read scripture like Proverbs 3:34 or James 4:6. Often we hear these scriptures, and we can think “I am humble, I don’t want God resisting me.” Let’s take a look at what God says about pride and how we humble ourselves. 1st Peter 5:5-6 says

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

According to this passage part of the way we humble ourselves before God is casting all our care on Him. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about anything and let everything happen as it comes, but rather I seek the Lord and obey Him in EVERYTHING. Being humble before God is coming under His Lordship and allowing Him to guide you, not you doing something and telling Him to bless it. God’s rule and voice should be the only thing that stirs us to action. Taking action on our fear, what we think is best, or anything else is not being led by God.

Humility asks, pride assumes. Jesus was an example of someone who submitted to God in every way. In John 5:19-20 Jesus said He does nothing of His own accord or out of what He thought was good He only did those things His Father showed Him. As a believer, we need to be submitting to God as Jesus did. When decisions need to be made, or a tough situation arises, do we go to God or try and work it out ourselves? I’ve been guilty of praying about a situation but not bothering getting an answer from God on what I should do.

I assumed I knew what was right and good. But the Bible says in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a way that seems right to a man, but it leads to death. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will not align with Gods will or with what is good. Humility believes the Bible and believes that there is no good outside of the will of God (James 1:17). Humility will always seek to align with Gods will; pride will always try and align God with its will. Humility recognizes God’s Lordship and our need for grace and mercy.

Hebrews 3:7-8 says: “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.” Pride is rooted in a deception that you can live a Christian life without reliance on God and His Spirit guiding you. God wants to speak to us! He wants us to bring His government here to earth. He wants His people to humble themselves to seek His face so His glory can be shown in our lives.

Let’s look at a few ways we can identify pride.

• Going to church on Sunday and forgetting what was taught. There is no practical implementation of it in our lives.
• Not seeking the Kingdom first in our daily lives.
• Not looking to God to guide you in family matters, job decisions, where to live, etc.
• Not going to a local Church, the Bible is clear God uses His Church to help us grow and mature
• Reading The Word without relying on the Holy Spirit to teach you. Not asking God to reveal Himself to you.
• Needing to justify yourself to others.
• Finding fault in people without seeking the Lord on their behalf. Or only seeing the bad in people and not what the Word says about them.

Those are just a few areas in our life we can identify. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life where you have not submitted to Him.