Humility, Healing & Pride:
A Listening Invitation
Proverbs 16:18-20 in the Good News Translation reads:
18 Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.
19 It is better to be humble and stay poor than to be one of the arrogant and get a share of their loot.
20 Pay attention to what you are taught, and you will be successful; trust in the Lord and you will be happy.
Sometimes pride doesn’t shout—it hides.
But it still wounds.
Pride may begin as a quiet internal posture—”I have to prove myself,” or “I know better”—but if left unhealed, it can open the door to a deeper spiritual battle. In Scripture, we meet a symbol of this in the form of Leviathan, a twisting spirit of pride that resists humility and distorts connection (Job 41, Isaiah 27:1).
James 4:6 reminds us:
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
This is not God being cruel. This is the fierce love of a Father who longs for us to live free from the chains of self-promotion, defensiveness, and isolation. The pathway to freedom is not performance—it’s surrender.
Have You Felt Twisted or Misunderstood Lately?
When pride is active, you might notice these patterns—either in yourself or in your interactions:
- An urge to always be right, even at the cost of peace
- An inability to receive correction
- A need to be noticed, validated, or admired
- Constant comparison or harsh internal dialogue
- A struggle to say “I’m sorry” or to admit fault
- Oversensitivity or offense that feels bigger than the situation
- Controlling conversations or shifting blame
These are warning signs. Not to bring shame—but to invite you into healing.
A Gentle Invitation to Listening Prayer
Take a moment to quiet yourself before the Lord.
Breathe slowly.
Invite the Holy Spirit to gently lead you into truth.
Listening Prayer Prompts
Ask the Lord:
- “Jesus, where has pride crept into my life unnoticed?”
- “Where do You want to untangle what pride has twisted?”
- “Is there someone I need to forgive—or a lie I need to surrender?”
- “What does humility look like for me in this season?”
Write down what you sense. God is not condemning you—He’s calling you closer.
Overcoming Pride with the Word
In Scripture, God shows us how He deals with this spiritual resistance:
- He hooks Leviathan (a symbol of pride) so it can no longer twist or escape. (Job 41:1)
- He crushes its heads, removing its power to divide. (Psalm 74:14)
- He pierces it with His sword, the truth of His Word. (Isaiah 27:1)
When we feel overwhelmed by accusation, pride, or distorted emotions, we go low in prayer—humble, open, and listen instead to His Word, His Truth, led by Holy Spirit who produces good fruit (See Galatians 5).
A Prayer to Pray for Your Home, Heart, Church family, or Business
“Father, we ask that the spirit of pride would not rise up against us—from within or without. Expose it with your light. Humble us with your kindness. Let truth and love reign again.”
Personal Prayer of Healing & Freedom
Father God,
I come to You in humility and hunger. If pride has hidden in my heart—unnoticed—I ask You to gently reveal it. I don’t want anything in me that resists Your Spirit. Forgive me for the ways I’ve tried to protect or promote myself. I want to be healed. I want to be free.
Jesus, if I have been twisted by offense, bitterness, or a need to be right—untangle me. If pride is operating in others against me, I release them into Your care and ask that You set them free. But I also ask for my freedom. Come with Your sword and defeat what I cannot.
You are the King of Peace. I surrender all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
💧 Want to go deeper in this journey of humility and healing?
You might start by reflecting slowly on:
- Romans 12:1–2 (NLT) :
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. - James 4:6–10 (NLT):
6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. - Psalm 139:23–24 (NLT):
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
🕊 He loves to comfort the humble. You can trust Him.
Bless you as you pause and receive His direction,
Merri Ellen 🙂
Learn more:
www.merriellen.com
Following and Trusting : Encountering God Out of the Box 
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