Impeding Pride

As much as I hate to admit it just like in last month's Perilous Presumptions post, pride is something that seems to seep in to my life unexpectedly and uninvited. In fact, whenever I hear someone speak about pride or read about it, I seldom stop to think that what they're saying could apply to me. Author Neil Anderson said, "Pride is like bad breath, everyone knows you have it except for you." There is truth in that funny phrase!

 

In the past couple of "Manna" posts, I have camped out in 2 Kings 5 and the story of Naaman's healing. I talked about the courage of the Jewish servant girl he kidnapped and how she was able to see the value of Living Victoriously in an Upside Down Life and last time looking at how the King of Israel misunderstood the reasoning why the King of Syria sent Naaman to him. That presumption could have ended in peril; he was ready to make war until Elisha came to clear up the misunderstanding.

 

Naaman's "bad breath" was impeding him from his healing until his servants explained to him another perspective.

 

The story goes with Elisha calling Naaman to his house. When he arrived, Elisha sent his servant out to tell him to dip in the Jordan River 7 times and he would receive his healing.  This did not set well with the Army Captain, he was the right hand man of the King of Syria, he "deserved better" than to have a servant come out and tell him how to be healed. And, on top of that, to go to a river that belonged to the Israelites??? Well, their rivers were much better in Syria! (see 2 Kings 5:9-12).

 

As Naaman stormed off in disgust with Elisha, his own servants asked him, "If Elisha himself would have come out, wouldn't you go down to the River Jordan?" The fact his, Naaman was offended that Elisha sent to him a servant instead of coming out to him himself and telling him to go to a river against which he had his prejudices. If it was not for his own servants speaking sense into him, his pride would have impeded him from being healed. 

 

It looks like to me from this passage that the best way to receive healing (in this context) or instructions from a godly leader is to humble ourself, recognize our prejudices, and simply follow the instructions of the Word. We will find rest, peace, health and healing in believing that it's for us. Our obedient belief will bring blessings and rest which God has promised. 

 

Hebrews 3:19 says, "they were unable to enter (the rest) because of their unbelief". It was when Naaman finally humbled himself and believed, or obeyed what Elisha said, that he finally received his healing. 

 

Pride can prevent the promises of God from becoming a reality in our life. 

 

I used to think that because of my circumstances certain promises weren't for me. But, I have learned to believe the promises despite my circumstances. The promises of God are Truth. But, the Grace of God can only be accessed through Faith (Romans 5:2).

 

In a recent devotion time, the reality of how our thoughts take us into our future became even more clear. If we believe our life is a mess and that's just the cards we've been dealt, then we will continue have a messy life and our circumstances will reflect that. But, if we can see that Jesus came to give us ABUNDANT LIFE (John 10:10), we will begin to see changes in our life as we believe for that blessing.

 

Impeding Pride puts a wall up between us and the blessing.