Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pride or Shame?

Pride or Shame, Strength or Weakness....

How many times have you found yourself in a place where you really really wanted, needed, someone to pray with you about a certain situation, but for what ever reason you conjured up you didn't reach out?

Be honest, I can't be the only one that didn't reach out when I should have.

My question is why don't we reach out for prayer when we need it most?

Proverbs 16: 18 says, Pride goes before destruction. NIV, or in the Message Bible it says, First pride, then the crash--the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

Dictionary.com defines pride as, a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit or superiority.

Our enemy, the deceiver will inevitably set us up.

On one hand, we find pride in what we do, or how people want us to pray for them or give them advice, on the other hand we are ashamed or embarrassed by our lack of Spirituality, our messed up finances, our disfunctional households.

But does the shame and embarrassment come from a kind of pride that keeps us from reaching out for prayer because we just don't want anyone else to know how messed up we really are?

"I'm ashamed of what I did, but how can I go to someone for prayer when I know better? People will look at me differently if I expose my deeds and lack of Spirituality therefore I'll suck it up and go it alone."

Yes, that's it, I can pray on my own and God will fix it up and no one will ever know.

Now we aren't just dealing with our issues, but with alienation from fellow believers who are willing and ready to intercede for us.

I'm not saying to run around with a megaphone and announce all your indiscretions to the world.

Use your closest, most trusted prayer partners to confess to, and let them stand in the gap for you till you are restored. God will do the work, but I think sometimes He needs to see we are willing to bring "it" into the light.

Don't let a spirit of pride or shame keep you from falling at His feet. Take your Alabaster box and break it open at His feet. This act was not done in private, but in a house full of people.

Don't let a spirit of pride or shame keep you from reaching out to your prayer partners, pastors, spiritual teachers, or trusted friends for help. I don't know about you, but I consider it an honor when someone asks for me to pray with them, not something to be taken lightly.

Don't let a spirit of pride or shame keep you from answering an invitation to go forward in church for prayer, we've all done that.

Stop it, reach out, there are people in your life willing and able to cover you in prayer, not condemn or judge you, just pray for you.

If you don't have anyone, get a hold of me. My past sins had to be exposed and wash clean by His blood and I'm fully aware that would have never happened with out people interceding for me in prayer.

Don't let your pride or shame keep you from release and freedom.

Blessings,
Princess, Daughter of the King of Kings
Mother of Princesses and Princes
Grandmother of Royalty

6 comments:

  1. I love this post, Wendy. I'd love to be your prayer partner, if you'll have me, and have you be mine.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a good post for me. I think I worry too much what someone will think if I confess a weakness and ask for prayer.

    I wanted to comment on your comment to my post about simplifying. Don't get rid of things that are truly cherished. Voluntary simplicity means you get to choose what is important to you and what you can do without.

    Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well God is talking on this post, that's for sure! And I am guilty as charged. Feeling a lack of spirituality has kept me in chains, that's for sure. Thanks Wendy! I really need to hear this...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I need to read this. For the last several months God has been placing me in different areas concerning prayer. Yes, I did need this!

    In His Grace,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great thoughts Wendy. I know I have been guilty of this at times in my life. Thanks for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete

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