Pride, goeth!

I struggle with issues of pride.
Please don't send me messages saying you don't think I'm prideful, this only adds to it!
It seems even when I try to be less prideful I find I am only more self focused trying to fix it! **Arg**

I may be defining more things as pride than are technically considered pride. But arrogance, conceit, vanity, disdain of others, inordinate self-esteem are all synonymous with pride, so I don't think I'm stretching the definition too far. Being self focused, IMO, is pride.

Straight from www.merriam-webster.com
synonyms proud , arrogant , haughty , lordly , insolent , overbearing , supercilious , disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors. proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness. arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted . haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position <haughty aristocrat>. lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power <lordly condescension>. insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness . overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence <overbearing supervisor>. supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness . disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness <disdainful of their social inferiors>.

Any time I question God, really I'm showing arrogance. Who am I to think He should have to answer to me?

Needing to be right or to correct someone else; the need to be understood; the need to have the last word; a "my rights" attitude; all prideful behaviors.

What about those times when you find someone else's company a little "beneath" your IQ? Conceit. And, after all, your IQ wont get you to Heaven!
I was recently in this position at a fellowship, when the Spirit smote me:
1 Samuel 16:7

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

I thought again and said, in matters of the Spirit, I am far less mature!

James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; Prov.3:34 :
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Now check out these definitions of humble:
1: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive
2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <humble apology>
There it is again that word submission, or as I often use it, surrender.

I decided to share this all here (for all three of you who read it) because pride loves to have others only see the good, presentable side. If pride is to be slain, he must first be stripped of his power. (Mark 3:27...sort of)

A message from my heart

Last week, I read a news article that broke my heart. A sweet little toddler had been beaten to death by her mom and step dad. She had even reached up and said "I love you, Mommy." and I couldn't even finish the article I was too overwhelmed....

It came to me that the Lord was grieved also, that His compassion for her was far greater than mine and that my compassion was a gift from Him. Then as I was thinking how those responsible for her death should be beaten to death; it occurred to me that my sins also deserve death! That the Lord feels compassion for them so much so that He died a horrible death, and that they really need to know that forgiveness. The only thing separating me from them was Jesus' forgiveness.

So I thought I had two special messages from the Lord and that I should share them with you.

One, we cannot fathom how wide and high and long and deep is the love of God; that He is of tenderest compassion. The other, that each person, regardless of our view of them, is precious to Him; so much so that He died to save them! A truth I sometimes need reminding of.