In Daniel chapter 4 we read an interesting story about King Nebuchadnezzar and his encounter with the living God. The king was the ruler over the most feared and prosperous empire of the day. Nebuchadnezzar’s wealth and power had created a monster of pride in his heart the God deals with in a most shocking way. Pride is known as the original sin and it has infiltrated lives since its inception. After a long and arduous journey Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God’s supremacy over his life and prays for deliverance.

Scriptures
Genesis 3:5; Psalms 32:8-9; Proverbs 14:3, 16:5, 18; Isaiah 14:12-14; Jeremiah 17:9; Daniel 4:1-37

Verses
About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, “Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!” But before I could finish speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted: King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours. You will be forced to live with the wild animals, away from people. For seven years you will eat grass, as though you were an ox, until you learn that God Most High is in control of all earthly kingdoms and that he is the one who chooses their rulers. This was no sooner said than done—I was forced to live like a wild animal; I ate grass and was unprotected from the dew. As time went by, my hair grew longer than eagle feathers, and my fingernails looked like the claws of a bird. (Daniel 4:28-33)

Thought
Pride has always been dangerous to people’s spiritual life as we found in the story of Nebuchadnezzar. Pride keeps a man or woman from acknowledging their condition before a holy and righteous God. Pride keeps us from admitting how far short we come on His scale of righteousness. Pride can convince us we don’t need the forgiveness of sins that God alone offers through His son Jesus Christ. While pride can cause us to commit a variety of sins, the worst thing it will do for us is keep us out of heaven.

Questions
Do you think Christians battle pride in their everyday lives? How can pride in our lives lead us into other sins? How can pride can keep someone from going to heaven? How do you deal with pride in your own life?

Response
As Proverbs tell us, pride can lead a person to destruction and a downfall. To make sure that doesn’t happen to us we must confess the sin of pride in our hearts. Trust God to help you live in such a way that pride can be defeated and not be a stumbling block for you.

Prayer
Lord God, I confess all pride in my life. I need you to break its hold over me and set me free. I want to live humbly before the world as a testimony of your grace and love in my life.