I’m not prideful, you are.

6 minute reading time

I like to reserve Wednesdays for Writing and Web Work because I’m a sucker for alliteration (hello, Claiborne Creative), and I thrive on structure. However, as I sit down to write, this is no ordinary Wednesday. It is the Wednesday after election day, and everything I have in my writing queue seems trite, or a stretch, or flat-out inapplicable to today. Except the word PRIDE that keeps jumping out at me, so I’m going with it. 

I’m not prideful, you are.

I distinctly remember sitting in a marital ministry group called re|engage exactly 2 years ago, and one of my now dear friends said, “I realized this week I have a lot of pride. As we arrived in a parking lot this week, my husband was super quiet and seemed like he was waiting for me to tell him where to go. It hit me how often I’m calling the shots or ridiculing him for making little choices like where to park that I don’t agree with.” 

I heard this, and I thought, “Hmm this sounds a lot like our marriage, but I don’t have pride… I’m just decisive.” 

Lol. Poor Gup. 

And really that’s the thing - pride struts around dressed up in really cute outfits and I woke up like this hair and just completely throws off your sin radar. 

I don’t have control issues! I am just a planner and I’m decisive. 

I am not judgemental! I just would never vote that way and cannot see how they could.

I am not envious or jealous! If we wanted to blow our money, we could buy that car too. 

I am not stubborn! I am just 7 steps ahead of everyone else.

I don’t need anyone’s help! I’m self-sufficient.

I am not angry! They’re just wrong and this isn’t fair. 

Fast forward to summer 2020, and as I’m going through a discipleship mentoring program, all my ugly, yellah, no good keister (woah sorry Home Alone quotes > everything) - I mean my ugly, yellah, no good PRIDE kept jumping out at every corner when God started to dig out the root causes of my sin. 

The root of my control issues? Pride. 

The root of my judgemental tendencies? Pride. 

The root of my envy and jealousy? Pride. 

The root of my stubbornness? Pride. 

The root of my self-sufficiency? Pride.

The root of my anger and bitterness? Pride

You get it. 

So in this pregnant moment in history (I saw someone say that on Instagram and I really, really liked it) how do we:

Push PRIDE to the side and let HUMILITY drive!  

(I was on the St. Andrew’s Broncos cheerleading team 1st through 5th grade, and we won the city competition every year, so I cannot resist a rhyme and have exactly zero on the lameness of them, ok?)

My schizophrenia and nerdiness aside, how do we do this?

Let’s start with the definition of pride via le google: “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.”

When our team wins, we’re puffed up. When our team loses, we’re making excuses. Either way, we’re taking credit for the win or justifying the loss, and essentially saying my will > God’s will. My will = I get credit for the win. I know better/frustration at the loss = my will is better than God’s.

If God is over all, as I believe as a Christian, there’s really no place for me to boast ¹ and there’s really no place for me to question it².

In our flesh, this can be virtually impossible. But with God, all things are possible!³

So the next time you’re getting saucy or a pity party starts to form, what if we all tried to incorporate this little acronym to gut check what’s really stirring? 

Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the third acronym I’ve introduced (one and two), so I hope you’re enjoying reliving 4th grade. This one has a Canadian twist because what better way to speak on the American Presidential election than by tossing in a Canadian colloquialism? (You can unsubscribe, I would totally get it).

PRIDE, EH? 

Pause and pray. 

In anger, jealousy, judgemental thoughts, gloating, making excuses - pause. Take a deep breath and be still ⁴. You might need to leave the room or ask the Holy Spirit for a muzzle for crying out loud ⁵.

Repent. 

If you’re being judgemental, call it out. If you’re being a whiny baby, call it out. Ask for forgiveness and for the heart posture to mean it! He is faithful and just to forgive.⁶

Identify the root. 

After repenting, ask God to show you what the root is. ⁷ If it’s anger - why are you angry? Because you lost an argument? Because you worked really hard and your project got sh*it on? Try to understand where the emotion originated, and talk through it with Him.

Denounce the lie. 

What lie is associated with the root cause? Did you believe your hard work should be rewarded? Why? Because that’s what the world says should happen? 

Experience God’s truth. 

Replace the lie with truth from God’s word. This can be involved and harder to do, check out verses 8,9,10,11,12,13 below for a great starting point.

Eagerly anticipate transformation. 

Believe He will help you when you ask in His name because He can, and He will! ¹⁴. You will likely fail, we all do, so when you do just start over on the acronym, eh?

Humbly do the next right thing.

This might mean seeking forgiveness from someone. It might mean turning off the television. It might mean rescheduling your evening plans if you know you’ll be in the way of temptation. ¹⁵

All of this said - I am beyond guilty of being a prideful little toot. Particularly where the election is concerned. But where in the world does all of this get me? 

Nowhere. 

Onward Christian soldier.

Whoever you are, wherever you are. ONWARD. There is work to do, and we don’t need anyone stuck in a pile of pride dung who should be on the battlefield for Christ. If you’re gonna boast, boast in Him. If you’re gonna cry, cry out for Him. The only King worthy of worship is on the throne now and forever.

Chin up, heart open, eyes forward. You are a child of God! So am I. Let’s all act like it. 

Father God, YOU are on the throne. You are sovereign. You are not shocked or frightened by anything happening in our country or that comes out of our sinful mouths. You love your children reading this right now beyond measure! We do not deserve such love, Father God. It is in your grace and infinite mercy it pours out from your heart into ours, and all we have to do is receive it. What love! Forgive my prideful heart God. I sometimes don’t even want forgiveness for it because I get so stuck in it, and it feels so good and comfortable. But I know that is a lie, and only you can dig me out of it! Halt my tongue. Halt my fingers. Halt my eyes from wandering where you know I will be tempted. Thank you for the precious soul reading this right now God. Remind them how much you love them, no matter where they are or what they’ve done! We are all sinners God, and we need you, now more than ever. Be with our country. Turn rebellious hearts to you alone - mine included - and bless us in our obedience God. Even the smallest step we take toward honoring you - God please be there and bless it. We need you every minute!!!! In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN.

Verses referenced herein for further study: 

1. Eph 2:8-9

2. Prov 16:9

3. Matthew 19:26

4. Psalm 46:10

5. Exodus 14:14

6. 1 John 1:9

7. Psalm 139: 23-24

8. John 16:33 : struggle is promised

9. Hebrews 1:3 : God is on the throne

10. Matthew 28:19-20 : He is with you always

11. Romans 8:31 : He is for you

12. Isaiah 40:26 : Not a single creation is missing from His love

13. Matthew 6:25-27 : Do not worry about your life

14. Mark 11:24

15. Micah 6:8