Point of Repentance: PRIDE
Scripture:
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Observation:
First of all, God is calling His people to humble themselves. Not the world, not the unbelievers – His people. Before healing can come, there needs to be humility. 1 Peter 5:5-6 says, “‘God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble. ’Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (NKJV).
Humility is having a proper perspective of who God is, who we are before Him, and our relationship. It means to be teachable and open to the Lord when He is speaking and doing a new thing. This is why pride will cause you to miss out on God’s best for your life – your lack of humility will blind your eyes and stop up your ears from what God is up to in your life.
Application:
How do we humble ourselves? Joel 2:12-13 answers this question, “‘Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.”
Fasting is the intentional denial of food and other fleshly appetites, while feeding our spirit and seeking God’s face.
Weeping does not mean making ourselves cry in some religious hypersensitive and fake display of emotion. It means to ask the Holy Spirit to sensitize our hearts for what breaks His. To hate, grieve, lament, and mourn over our sin and the sin of those around us that causes the light in the world to grow dim. Humility in His word brings light. Pride and rebellion unmake us and snuffs the light out. We weep in asking Jesus to restore the lampstand of our lives, that His light may be seen once again.
Prayer of Repentance:
Father, I ask forgiveness for my pride and sin. I repent of any and every area where I have exalted myself, my opinion, or my preferences above You, Your kingdom, and other people. Holy Spirit, help me to identify any pride in my life and to humble myself before You. Your kingdom come and will be done in Jesus’ name.
Worship: