Praying For Repentance From Self Sufficiency And Pride
Day 6 - October 2, 2024
Zach Shields Student at Baylor University
Devotion For Day 6
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom
King Hezekiah was a godly king of Judah who did much good for his kingdom and people. Following the miraculous defeat of the Assyrians, Hezekiah fell mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah told him that he would die from this illness; but rather than accepting this word from God, Hezekiah began to weep and beg for healing. God granted Hezekiah an additional 15 years of life.
On the surface, this sounds like a wonderful answer to prayer; however, a door to pride was opened instead. 2 Chronicles 32:25 says: “But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him…” These last years of the king’s life were catastrophic for the kingdom of Judah. In his pride, Hezekiah showed delegates from the king of Babylon all the contents of the temple treasury which was then taken. In addition, Hezekiah had a son, Manasseh, who became an extremely evil king. What could have been a great life-long legacy for Hezekiah was marred by pridefulness because he failed to honor God through the gift of time he was given.
Even the church, with the best intentions, can experience pride and self-sufficiency! There was a Chinese underground church pastor who reportedly remarked, after being shown some of the largest churches in our nation, “It’s amazing how much they can accomplish without God.”
Today, pray this prayer by Charles Spurgeon from a sermon on pride: “Lord, [protect] me everywhere! Keep me in the valley that I murmur not of my low estate! Keep me on the mountain that I become not giddy through pride at my being lifted up so high! Keep me in my youth, when my passions are strong! Keep me in my old age, when I am conceited of my wisdom, and may therefore be a greater fool than even the young! Keep me when I come to die, lest at the very last I should deny You! Keep me living, keep me dying, keep me laboring, keep me suffering, keep me fighting, keep me resting, keep me everywhere, for everywhere I need You, O my God.”
Prayer Topics
- Ask God to give you a heart of humility and take time to repent of self-sufficiency.
- Pray that your church will demonstrate complete dependence upon God alone!
- Pray that you and your church will take to heart the truth that nothing can be accomplished apart from God.
- Pray that your church will do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, and will, with great humility, count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
