The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.                    Mat. 22:11-12

Pride is such a huge obstacle for all people.  I know in my own life it is one of the most difficult challenges that I face on a daily basis.  I never realized how selfish I was until I got married.  I always thought of myself as a pretty good guy who likes to help when I can.  But after I got married, my wife and I had soe difficult times, and the reason for that was my pride always kept getting in the way.  My Pastor refers to wives as the second holy spirit.  We should be open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we sin.  However, sometimes, including myself, I be come selfish and am blinded to the sin I am doing because of my pride.  That is where my wife comes in, because she will at times notice my sin and is more than willing to point it out.  In a good way though!  I am grateful for that too.  Because through that, will my personal relationship with Jesus Christ continue to grow deeper.

I have asked my wife and a few close friends of mine to pay attention to me and when they notice me being prideful, to let me know.  First, I want to take notice of when, why and how.  Is it particular situations, is it only around certain people, do I act differently around some people than other that might trigger me to be more prideful, etc.?  Second, I want to be aware of my selfishness and pride so that I can learn to not be selfish.  To allow my  heart to be sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Dear God, may I be bold to ask that I never be selfish or prideful.  But, I know I am human, and I most likely will again and again.  I ask that I will be sensitive to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  May you break me in whatever way that is needed in order to humble me before you.  I do not want to be selfish, but when I am, and I am humbled, I pray that I recognize that I was humbled because of my selfishness.  And I give all the praise to you in humbling me in the way that you did.