Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty
spirit before a fall.
Anyone who has traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland has
probably seen the Edinburgh castle. It is a tower of seemingly insurmountable
strength. However, long ago that castle was attacked and seized.
One place in the fortress was protected by its steepness
and impregnability, they thought, so no guards were posted there. But at an
obvious weak spot was where the most guards were stationed. Wouldn't you know
that at an opportune time, the attacking army sent a small band up that
unguarded slope and surprised the garrison into surrender. Where the castle was
strong, there it was weak.
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin wrote:
"There is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as
pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still
alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should
probably be proud of my humility".
I guess the even best of us struggle with pride in our
lives -- wait, come to think of it -- it's most likely the best of us that struggle
with pride the most!
The enemy of our souls would like nothing more than to
cause us to stumble -- especially in the areas we feel most secure!! We need to
be on guard. Let's never put our hope in our own strengths, or anyone else's
for that matter. We must remind ourselves continuously that it is the Lord who
is our strength, and He alone.
Dear Lord, help us to put our hope in you today. Help us not try to do it on our own. In the
Name of Jesus, Amen.
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