The past few days God has gently (by his grace) been revealing my pride and selfishness. It started Sunday when I prayed through various sins with a friend and was struck by how many of the aspects of pride I had fallen into. Today, I will simply list them (as gathered from Neil Anderson's pamphlet The Steps to Freedom in Christ) and challenge you to consider and confess. I could see how I had fallen into all of these (more on that later):
- Having a stronger desire to do my will than God's will
- Leaning too much on my own understanding and experience rather than seeking God's guidance through prayer and His Word
- Relying on my own strengths and resources instead of depending on the power of the Holy Spirit
- Being more concerned about controlling others than in developing self-control
- Being too busy doing seemingly important and selfish things rather than seeking and doing God's will
- Having a tendency to think that I have no needs
- Finding it hard to admit when I am wrong
- Being overly concerned about getting the credit I feel I deserve
- Thinking I am more humble, spiritual, religious, or devoted than others
- Being driven to obtain recognition by attaining degrees, titles and positions
- Often feeling that my needs are more important than another person's needs
- Considering myself better than others because of my academic, artistic or athletic abilities and accomplishments
- Having feelings of inferiority appearing as false humility
- Not waiting on God
- Other ways I have thought more highly of myself than I should
Here's a prayer of confession that goes along with it (again, from Neil Anderson's pamphlet):
Lord Jesus, I agree I have been proud by [name each item from above that fit you]. Thank you for your forgiveness. I choose to humble myself before you and others. I choose to place all my confidence in you and not to put confidence in my flesh. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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