The Pride Of Thine Heart

Although the nation of Edom, Esau’s descendants (Gen 32:3), was situated at a very secluded fortress “in the clefts of the rock,” the pride of their heart had deceived them! The “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer 17:9). It uses our own pride to deceive us (Prov 16:18). I have yet to hear a prideful person tell me that he is full of pride. Because when we are proud, we often think we’re doing fine (1 Cor 10:12). Pride focuses its attention on self, instead of “the fear of the Lord” (Prov 8:13). The heart’s deception would make us think that what we are doing is right. It would go at great lengths just to acquire what it wants to get – “for from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts” (Mk 7:21)!

Many people get in trouble because they try to justify doing something wrong to satisfy their heart’s desire. Satan was the primary example of one whose “heart was lifted up” (Eze 28:17), because of his beauty. He said in his heart, “I will be like the most High” (Isa 14:14). The source of pride was from Satan’s heart which corrupted his wisdom (Prov 11:2). Pride will do the same thing to us. When our hearts are lifted up, pride will also corrupt our wisdom, by focusing on the “earthly, sensual, devilish” (Jms 3:15).

 Prideful people will do the most foolish things, because their reasoning no longer lines up with God’s word (Ps 37:23). Pride binds them like a chain and “violence covereth them as a garment” (Ps 73:6). But all their actions “shall not be unpunished” (Prov 16:5). Edom was brought “down to the ground” because of their pride. We must constantly guard our hearts with the “breastplate of righteousness” (Eph 6:14), and ask the Lord to examine us by trying our reins and our hearts (Ps 26:2)! God bless you!



- Pastor Melito Barrera