A Prideful Heart Opposes God

by Rick Warren — August 1, 2019

“'God opposes everyone who is proud, but he is kind to everyone who is humble.’ Surrender to God!”(James 4:6-7 CEV).

We often make plans without even consulting God. Then we pray and ask God to bless our plans, even though we didn’t ask him to take part in them. We just assume that our plans are his will. Then, when our plans don’t happen on the timetable we want or they don’t happen at all, we get angry with God. That’s called pride, and God hates pride.

There are probably a lot of people you wouldn’t want to oppose, but you really don’t want to be opposed by God. There’s no way you’re going to win that one. When you’re prideful, the Bible says you’re in opposition to God at that very moment. In fact, you’re operating as an enemy of God anytime you get full of pride. That’s how serious it is. So, what does it mean to surrender yourself and your plans to God?

Romans 6:13 says, “Give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes” (GNT). Surrendering means saying, “God, I’m going with your plans for my life, not my own. I’ve got plans, I’ve got dreams, I’ve got goals, I’ve got ambitions, but I know that you put me on this earth for a purpose, and I’m going to intentionally choose your plan for my life instead of my own.”

Surrendering to God is the best path to success because instead of him becoming part of your plan, he will make you a part of his plan.

Talk It Over

  • What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God?
  • How does your desire to control certain areas of life reveal your pride?
  • Why do you think God hates pride?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.