Ben Cotten - Latest Comments in That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Cheryl — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:33:44 -0000

Thank you, Heather, for being so transparent. I think pride is a vicious cycle that many of us fall into. We want to appear like we have it all together, everything’s under control and hope we look like we know what we’re doing because we don’t want anyone to ‘peek under the rug’ and see the ‘real us’ and appear weak or incapable. But in those beliefs we forfeit and unknowingly push away not only the comfort that God wants to grace us with, but those He has given us to support us as well. It’s a cycle that I don’t think we can break in our own strength (pride there again), but need to be very honest with God, and ask Him to begin that work in our souls.

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Heather — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:43:32 -0000

These are all such encouraging comments. It helps to know I am not the only one dealing with these issues. It is so true too that so many times what gets in the way of overcoming pride is pride itself. I loved what Sarah said about when we try to worship God in our own strength we end up worshipping ourselves..OUCH. Thanks for all the comments. Very encouraging!!

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Kathy — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:20:56 -0000

Wow Heather, you really hit the nail on the head here. Thanks for sharing your heart. The verse I keep coming back to with regard to pride is again from Paul in Romans 7:15: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." And I HATE living out of pride. The kicker is, when I'm that deep into it, I don't even know it! It takes getting my feelings hurt or something equally difficult for me to realize that I'm not so humble as I think!

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

nymfs — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:28:21 -0000

thanks for this post! it's a blessing to know we're not alone in th journey.

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Sarah (Real Life) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:05:34 -0000

Amen, Heather! I am dealing with the pride issue right now, too. Namely, thinking my actions have anything to do with God's grace or His love toward me. When I try to worship Jesus in my own strength with things I think I should do, then I cease to actually worship HIM! I'm actually worshiping my own actions. Does that make sense?

I keep coming back to Paul's statement to the Corinthians:

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1 Cor. 2:2

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:01:07 -0000

Wow, Heather. You're so right about pride. Sometimes it seems like everything I do is tainted by it. Sometimes pride keeps me from both giving and receiving correction, so it seems that the biggest hinderance to Community is pride itself! Wouldn't it be awesome if we were all humble enough to have our pride exposed and dealt with? Ha! What a paradox!

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Diana — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:39:35 -0000

Ouch...wish I could say that your words were wonderful ones for me to share with clients who face the same problem, but they spoke to my heart this morning. I, too, have a tough time trusting God at times. I know, at an intellectual level, that He is in control, that He knows what is best for me, but I keep taking charge and trying to fix things on my own. As a counselor comforting others is usually not a problem, but letting people see my problems and comforting them by sharing my weaknesses is difficult. Thanks for the reminder that community means allowing others to come along side me...not just me coming along side them!