Kill Your Pride: An 8-Day Brave Coaches Journeyਨਮੂਨਾ

A View of God Too Small

At its core, pride is a declaration of self-sovereignty. It’s the subtle but dangerous whisper that says to God, “I’m more important than you. My plans are better. My comfort is paramount.” For those who are used to being in control—in the boardroom, on the job site, or in their homes—this is a constant battle. The root of this pride is often not an inflated view of self, but a view of God that is far too small.

We naturally put limitations on everything, and we often do the same with God. We shrink Him down to a manageable size, making Him a consultant for our plans rather than the sovereign King of the universe. But it is impossible to have a view of God that is too great. He is more majestic than our minds can ever comprehend, yet He is intricately concerned with every detail of our lives. When our view of God is small, our reverence for Him is low, and our pride runs high.

Pride is also the relentless pursuit of comfort and control. It leads to the statement - “I deserve _______” What we think we deserve is typically some form of comfort. Pride wants us to avoid hard and difficult things because we deserve an easier path. When life gets uncomfortable or spins out of our control, our pride gets prickly. We become defensive, anxious, or irritable. Why? Because we are trying to do the job of the Holy Spirit. He is the Comforter. He is the one who brings peace and guidance in the midst of hard and difficult situations. When we try to manufacture our own comfort through things like social media, food, or other substances, or seize control in situations where we have none, we are essentially telling God we don't trust Him to do His job.

The Brave Truth: Pride wants to replace the Holy Spirit.

A man once shared how he would get incredibly defensive whenever his wife questioned a financial decision. It wasn't about the money; it was about control. His defensiveness was a pride indicator, revealing his fear of not being seen as a capable provider. Once he gave up control, he was free. If his financial decisions were correct, he had nothing to prove, they would prove themselves. And if they were wrong, God was his rear guard, protecting him and his family, and he could learn from it. His initial defensiveness was rooted in a small view of God’s provision and a large view of his own responsibility.

Humility starts with expanding our view of God. It is a conscious fight to revere Him, to be in awe of His majesty. It is embodying the spirit of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” When God gets bigger, our problems get smaller, and our pride begins to starve.

Action Steps:

1. Identify Your Triggers: This week, pay attention to what makes you feel prickly, defensive, or anxious. What is that situation revealing about your desire for comfort or control?
2. Practice Reverence: Spend 10 minutes today intentionally meditating on the greatness of God. Read a Psalm about His majesty (like Psalm 145) or simply look at creation and thank Him for His power.
3. Surrender Control: Identify one area where you are white-knuckling control. Verbally surrender it to God in prayer, saying, "God, I trust you with this. You are in control."
   

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways have you created a "small" or limited view of God in your life?
2. Where are you pursuing your own comfort instead of relying on the Holy Spirit as your Comforter?
3. How can you intentionally make God "increase" in your thoughts and actions this week?