The Wise Embrace Grace

God yearns to see something in each of us, something that only he can bring forth, something only possible by grace.

His desire for humility is possible as Christ is formed in us, but pride stands in the way. This is why God opposes pride. Pride is a hindrance to seeking God and the grace that frees people. Pride cherishes independence so that we’re not beholden to others. Pride preoccupies us with self-proclaimed goodness and self-righteousness, often seeing what is wrong in others or in our setting, but seldom seeing the turmoil of pride in our own life. Pride keeps us from releasing all the stuff inside us. It prevents us from desiring others’ help and God’s help. It holds us captive to the bondage we are in. Pride keeps us from seeking the Spirit’s correction, transformation, and freedom in Jesus!

James says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. We must submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, and cleanse our hands (James 4:6-8). This cannot be done apart from grace. To submit implies that believers allow God to enable them to submit in complete surrender to God’s will. Then and only then are we able to successfully resist the influence of the devil.
Because of God’s grace, we recognize our grumbling and complaining, our jealousy and selfish ambition. By grace we learn to walk in humility, to submit all things to God, to draw near to God, to purify our hearts by repentance.

By grace demonic influence is defeated, pride is destroyed, and we can walk in honesty and humility before God and others. Where has pride has entered your heart and mind. Ask yourself:

Am I angry at something, at someone?

Have I suffered an injustice of some kind or been treated unfairly?

Do the hurts of the past have an unbreakable hold on me?

Will I continue to allow disappointments to determine my direction?

Is the need for self-righteousness so strong I cannot escape it?

If you can honestly say yes to anyone of these questions, you need the transforming power of grace! Release these things to the Lord. Speak them out to him right now.

Let his grace find you, heal you, transform and restore you.