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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer is a way to communicate with God. As we commune with God in prayer, we can talk to God about our needs and the things that concern us. We get to ask God for help. In prayer, we receive God’s guidance, God’s wisdom, and God’s knowledge. The more we pray, the more our faith in God grows. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) states: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Prayer demonstrates humility in our relationship with God. While a believer with a heart of humility depends on and trusts in God, a believer with a heart filled with sinful pride functions differently. Sinful pride causes our hearts to be hardened towards God. It propels us to live as if we do not need God. As if, for example, we have all the wisdom needed to live this life. As Proverbs 26:12 (NIV) tells us: Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
When our hearts are filled with sinful pride, we depend on self – not on God. We depend on our human knowledge. We must, however, know that human knowledge is limited. Only God has knowledge about everything. Isaiah 46:10 (NIV) states: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
We must know that the enemy’s plan is to drive us away from God. And regardless of how strong we think we are, on our own, we cannot defend ourselves against the enemy’s schemes. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) states: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
When our hearts are filled with sinful pride, we are falling into the enemy’s trap. The enemy is succeeding in turning our hearts away from God. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV) states: But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
As believers, we are commanded to pray. So, we must stand against sinful pride because it leads to prayerlessness. And prayerlessness is rebellion.
Psalm 103:8 (NLT) states: The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
In Psalm 103:8 we see a display of God’s nature. So even though our hearts may have become hardened as a result of sinful pride, there is hope for us. We can confess our sinful pride. We can confess that we have had a hardened heart toward God. And we can ask God to forgive us. Then in faith, we move forward surrendering to the Holy Spirit so that our heart can be transformed.
Jesus Christ walked in perfect humility. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can have a heart of humility. We can walk humbly before God.
Psalm 138:6 (AMP) states: Though the Lord is exalted, He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship]; But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
