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Satan’s goal is to remove God from the center of your life. If God isn’t the essence & center of your life, your life is out of order. The enemy is relentless – he’ll keep trying to pull you away from God.
God revealed to Pastor Brent that he has been prideful in several areas of his life. Pride is one of the tools Satan uses to displace God from the center of our lives.
Prides Makes You Feel Entitled
Pastor Brent was on a fishing trip in Upper Michigan. While out of the lake, 2 loons were in the area that Pastor Brent wanted to fish in. As he came near to the loons, they puffed themselves up and started squawking. They felt that was their fishing spot & didn’t want to be disrupted. Pastor Brent realized that he has been feeling underappreciated…like he isn’t getting what he deserves. When we are entitled, we start to grumble and complain.
“Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.” James 5:9
Pride Will Stop the Blessing
Pastor Brent realized he was getting prideful on his fishing trip because he knew where to catch the fish (after not catching for several days). However, he ended up losing his most expensive fishing rod and reel. He realized that he was prioritizing the wrong things…it became all about the fish instead of being in God’s presence and building relationships.
King Nebuchadnezzar also became very prideful, and he lost the blessing on his life.
“All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Dan 4:28-32
Pride Will Kill You
Pastor Brent saw an eagle dive bomb the “puffed up” loons. At the last second, the loons dove under water.
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:6-10
Identify pride in your life! Oftentimes it creeps up when things are going well.
We need to grieve our sins. Grieve over areas you are not putting God first.
Too often we are not in the will of God when we are comfortable – are there areas of your life that are a bit too comfortable?