Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Just Heavenly Father, I come before You boldly, not out of my own strength, but rather through the perfection of Your Son and His gift of that perfection to me. It is clear in Your Word (the Bible) that You have a disdain for pride. You have mentioned it in approximately 46 verses in 17 books. Some of the verses are very direct. Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

Forgive me for the times when I see myself as self-sustaining and let pride creep in. I do not want to have happen to me what is expressed in Proverbs 16:18. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” I ask You to open my eyes to my true vulnerabilities and frailties. Show me my weaknesses and knock down self-pride.

Direct me not to have a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of unmatched strength and boldness found only in You. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Remind me constantly to let my sense of self-reliance die, and instead lean on Your sufficiency. It is Your wisdom guiding my decisions. It is Your love that enables me to show compassion and care towards others. It is Your very air that I breathe. I am nothing without You. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Jesus said, ‘”My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.“‘

In Jesus’ Name, thank you that if I allow You to fully control my life, pride will not be a part of it. Amen.