Shirley's Corner - Minding The Three "P's"

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A few years ago the Holy Spirit warned me that there were three "P's" who would try to trip me up for the rest of my life. These three are PRIDE, PRESUMPTION and PROCRASTINATION.

On our Christian journey there are many snares and traps laid by our enemy and allowed by our Lord. It is His purpose to raise up in this world a host of OVERCOMERS in order that we might know through experience that all He says to us is true. 

Jesus said to His disciples, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have OVERCOME the world." - John 16:33

When He returned to His Father, the gift of the Holy Spirit was given in order that all who follow Him would have dwelling in them a Helper, Teacher, Comforter, Guide, Who would lead us along a predetermined path created for each of us. John 14:16-31, Ephesians 2:10

The enemy I want to address this week is PRIDE. In this brief writing I cannot tell you all there is to know about PRIDE, but my aim is to alert you to its presence in our lives. PRIDE cost Lucifer his position in heaven, and our God hates it today as much as He hated it then. Therefore, search it out, and deal with it every time it rears it's head!

In John 1:9 it is written, "If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness) and (continuously) cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action.) from the Amplified Bible.

PRIDE is rooted in fear and insecurity. At an early age we became aware this world was not always to our liking. Consciously or unconsciously we determined to change things. What we didn't know was that we were born with a terrible disease called SIN that made us the center of our universe. We came into this world and remained in this world restless and dissatisfied, constantly trying to rearrange circumstances and people to suit ourselves in order to find peace and pleasure. We had no idea we were only two-thirds the person God intended us to be. We were body and soul. All our decisions were made through our physical likes and dislikes as well as our soulish emotions, because we entered this world "spiritually stillborn". We discovered that in order to find the love and peace we were seeking, we had to be "born again"--this time as a whole person--body, soul and SPIRIT (John 3:3-8)

Do you remember your glorious first days in the Kingdom as He welcomed you into His arms?

  • You were rescued
  • You were safe
  • You were exactly where you had always wanted to be
  • You were in love--content at last.

However, as the days went on, we found vestages of our old life wanting entrance on this new path. Old habits are hard to break. Once more the temptation to be in charge was knocking on our heart's door wanting entrance. Our old SELF was begging to come back and control things as it once did, sowing seeds of doubt that God really loved us and that the Holy Spirit would really lead us.

As we listened to these lies, other voices chimed in to join the argument. All the OLD SELF family...

  • SELF-CENTEREDNESS
  • SELF-PITY
  • SELF-IMPORTANCE
  • SELF-SUFFICIENCY
  • SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
  • SELF-CONCIOUSNESS
  • SELF-ASSURANCE

were clamoring--You have to watch out for you and yours--when the truth is you can't. (Romans 7:14-25) The whole OLD-SELF family were and are spawned by PRIDE.

Jesus says show the enemy no pity.

PRIDE can't be redeemed. Left unchecked it will hinder you all the days of your life. PRIDE always questions what He says; PRIDE always thinks it knows a better way; PRIDE is a liar! (Matthew 16:24-28) It must be put to death.

But how do we do this? By offering it up to Him, and allow Him to destroy all SELF-LIFE He finds in us. 

When our will crosses His will, our will must die in order for His will to be accomplished in us. We are instructed in James 4:6-10,

"But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, "God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace (continually) to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it) (Proverbs 3:34). So be subject to God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him) and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. (Recognize that you are )sinners, get your soiled hands clean; (realize that you have been disloyal) wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts (of your spiritual adultery). (As you draw near to God) be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep (over your disloyalty). Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heart felt shame (for your sins). Humble yourselves (feeling very insignificant) in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (He will lift you up and make your lives significant)." from the Amplified Bible

In Proverbs 3:5-8, Soloman exhorts us,

Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight and understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn (entirely) away from evil. It shall be health to you nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones." Amplified Bible


I close this post with an excellent book recommendation. It's titled,  Humility, by Andrew Murray. Read it, if you're serious about putting this "P" to death on a daily basis. By God's grace it is possible.

Join me next week when I share on the second "P"--PRESUMPTION.

With love from my chair at the Harvest Table,

Shirley

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6 Comments

This is something that can so easily sneak into your life and it so important to be in the word, Thank you for your teaching.

Always blessed to read and learn from you. Seems my life is walking in your wisdom and your prayers. For that I'm great full . I'm so happy God has raised you up for a time as this .

Thank you so very much Shirley. I love you and miss you guy's. But am having a wonderfol time with the Rock. The LORD is good all the time. I love your post you seem to be hiting home so keep up the good work. You are loved with an ever lasting love.

I've heard it said that Pride is the soil from which all other sins grow. Dealing with pride helps us resist all other sins, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, the Bible tells us. Thank you for sounding the alarm and helping us consider this a daily threat to our growth in godliness.
I'm so excited to hear more on the three "P's".
Blessings,
Debi

So grateful you are doing this series Ms. Shirley! Thank you!

Thank you for that reminder today. You are such a treasure and I feel so blessed to know you!!

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