Who’s the most arrogant person you can think of?

You probably didn’t think of yourself. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as proud.

We can usually spot pride in someone else. The person who won’t listen or who has to be right or the person who looks down on others.

Unfortunately, pride is hard to see in ourselves, even when it’s obvious to everyone else. You just think you’re right and understand things better. However, pride can also be very suble.

It shows up when we dismiss advice without really considering it because we assume we already know enough. Sometimes it shows itself when we find it hard to admit we were wrong.

We think,

“I’ve got this. I don’t need help.”

Those thoughts don’t feel dangerous in the moment. They can even feel reasonable. But Proverbs warns us that pride has a direction to it.

It leads somewhere.

“Pride goes before destruction…”

Not always immediately or dramatically. But consistently. Pride closes us off. It keeps us from listening. It makes it harder to see clearly and over time, that has consequences.

• A strained relationship that didn’t need to be.
• A mistake that could have been avoided.
• A path chosen without wisdom.

The fall often begins long before we notice it.

That’s why humility matters so much in the life of wisdom; Not as a vague idea, but as something very practical.

• Humility listens.
• Humility asks questions.
• Humility is willing to be corrected.

It doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself. It means seeing yourself honestly — including your limits.

And that kind of honesty opens the door to something better. Because when we’re no longer pretending we have everything figured out, we’re finally ready to receive wisdom.

Wisdom comes from the Lord, but as with so many other things God does, He often instills wisdom through the people around us. But to receive that wisdom, we need to be ready to be guided, to learn, and to be led.

So today, pay attention to those small moments when pride tries to take over and you feel defensive or resist correction. 

Those are opportunities—Not to beat yourself up—but to turn and listen, to humble yourself and take a step in a different direction.

Because the path of wisdom doesn’t begin with being right.

It begins with being teachable.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Pride is often hard for me to see in myself, but You see it clearly. Forgive me for the times I have been unwilling to listen or admit when I was wrong. Give me a humble heart. Help me to be teachable, to receive correction, and to seek wisdom instead of relying on myself. Lead me away from the path that pride creates, and guide me in Your ways.

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.