I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

All who fear the LORD will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.

Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine…

I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.

-Proverbs 8:12-14, 17

I have a terrible trait that likes to knock on my door from time to time. It comes in different forms and different seasons. But the older I get, the easier it is to identify this trait.

It’s pride.

It can come to anyone. I recently heard that in every good person is some bad, and in every bad person I some good. How we all need Jesus.

Having said that it might sound like I’ve always been able to keep everything in my life under God’s watchful eye and have kept pride under God’s control.

Sometimes I have not.

God sees what each of us is going through and cares too much about us to leave the negative in or hearts. It doesn’t matter what it is. What matters is that when the oily residue of pride or any sin has somehow crept in, and must be dealt with.

It may be hard for me to distinguish pride, though I try.

But Jesus’ Good Spirit in me can.

Like a careful janitor, he wipes up the grimy mess in my soul and then we talk about how it got there.

Jesus is a good listener. He doesn’t condemn me. He simply focuses on whatever I did or thought that allowed that strange goo of pride to ooze into my soul.

Jesus simply walks with me in my secret restoration.

A few things I’ve noticed so far in asking Jesus help with my pride…

When pride has come to me through a blessed season, Jesus does not take the blessing away. I am forever a student at His feet.

Wisdom now walks where worry pride would.

I am set free, unhindered once again to run my race.

I am thankful that Jesus’ heart is happy when I learn my lessons. And how do I know pride has been sent packing?

Peace and thanksgiving reside where pride once tried to hide.

Amazing!