Abide Christian Meditation - Pride Hinders Faith

0:00In times like these, we all need a word of encouragement. From Pastor and Best Selling Author, Max Lucato, comes the Max Lucato Encouraging Word Podcast with over 40 years of ministry and more than 145 million books sold in 50 languages. Max shares the greatest story ever told. The living savior who brings hope for a lifetime through rich, biblical insight, heartfelt storytelling. You'll be reminded that God is always near, always for you and always in you. Listen to the Max Lucato Encouraging Word Podcast where hope meets your day. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Abide's daily Christian meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation is brought to you by our partners at LifeAudio. If you go to LifeAudio.com, you will find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more head over to LifeAudio.com now. And remember, you can have full access to our Meditations Commercial Free. Just text Abide to 22433 for 25% off.

1:00Now, receive his peace as we meditate and abide in Christ. Welcome to this Abide Meditation. My name is Jonathan. Does your pride hinder your trust in God? Maybe that question has never occurred to you. Take a deep breath and slowly release it. As you think about that question, keep breathing deeply, letting your neck and shoulders relax. Feel your heart rate begin to grow, slow and steady. Listen to what God might be saying to you in your heart. In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was disciplined by the Lord because he believed that everything he had accomplished was due to his own great power and majesty.

2:01Because of his pride, God caused him to become like one of the beasts, eating grass in the field like an ox. That certainly worked because in Daniel 4, verse 37, the King says, Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven because everything he does is right. And all his ways are just. And those who walk and pride, he is able to humble. Take a moment and reflect on this verse. Do you recognize the power of God's help and healing in your life? Do you let pride cloud your faith? Humble yourself before God and let him lift you up. The proverbs are full of warnings against pride, but Nebuchadnezzar wouldn't have paid any attention

3:02to Solomon's ancient writings. Yet we have them readily available to us, especially this one. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Father God, rescue me from my pride. I might not think I have an issue with it, but any time I give myself credit for something and forget about you, I'm falling short of your glory. In you, I live and move and have my being as Acts 1728 says. So I know that while you gave me all my gifts and abilities, only in you are they made complete. And only for your glory should I be using them, not my own. May it be so, Lord. Amen. As we talk about pride today, take a position of humility if you're able.

4:02Perhaps lying face down on the ground or just kneeling before God. But even if you can't, humble your heart as you breathe deeply. Where God has revealed pride in your heart, confess that to him now. Ask him to teach you to recognize when pride is getting in the way of your faith and to trust him and his sovereign control. Having a right view of yourself is an important characteristic for your spiritual growth. As both Peter and James quote from Proverbs 34, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

5:04Lord, you are worthy of all our praise. I don't want to just brush off people's compliments like they did before. I don't want to just brush off people's compliments like they don't matter, but I don't want to take full credit for myself either. Help me to see how thinking I'm all that can hinder my faith in you to accomplish through me all that you want to do. I don't want to get in the way of your purpose and your plan for my life. When everything stripped away, you remain. I am grateful. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. Doing frequent heart checks will help you keep a reign on your pride. Ask yourself, am I doing this for my own acclaim or gods? In whom do I trust? Until next time, may you abide in Christ.

6:12Amen.