Pride

I always hear the word "pride" attached to so many things.  People say they take "pride" in who they are or in their work or in their children.  In thinking about this I decided to see what the Lord has to say about "pride".  Turns out the Lord has a whole lot to say about it and these Bible verses are just the tip of the iceberg:

"Pride goes before destruction,  a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)

"A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)

"In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." Psalm 10:4 (NIV)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9(NIV)

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for this broken, prideful world.  I pray that we as a people would humble ourselves before You so You will heal us and save us.  I pray for Your favor and that Your wisdom will be upon us.  For salvation is only through Jesus.  There is nothing we can do or accomplish that will save us.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Suffering

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

"Jesus answered, "It is written:'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." Luke 4:8

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters." Luke 11:23

"Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment."  Matthew 22:37-38

"He who belongs to God hears what God says.  The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:47

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;  no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30

"No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."  Romans 8:26-27

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  Is anyone of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well:  the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:13-16

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus,  I lift up those who are suffering and in pain.  I pray that You Lord would strengthen their faith.  I pray that You will give them hope as they see Your Mighty Hand move in their lives.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com