Dear GodSippers,

Praying you are full of hope and the joy of summertime. I love this season. My heart is thankful for all kinds of blessings each day. While the spiritual realm continues to prove the reality of ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ with great evidence of the frenzied clash of the kingdoms, I pray for wisdom, discerning of spirits, and the compassion of Christ above all things. 

My heart pursues the Lord for more understanding of the phenomenon of “Pride Month” and how to respond. In past years, Holy Spirit has answered this concern in a couple of ways, which I have published. One specific thing He has said to me, which I posted previously, is that ‘the problem is in the Pride.’

Of course, scripture bears this truth in many and various places, most specifically in 1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (ESV).

Studying the same verse in the Amplified version emphasizes with clarity that lust and pride come not from the Father, but are all that is in the world and from the world. In other words, we who are of the Father no longer have the desires that are of the world.

“For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.” ~1 John 2:16 (AMPC).

And yet, the verse practically everyone knows tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  ~ John 3:16 (NKJV).  His love is for the world. The very thing containing the lusts and pride that are not from Him, this is the thing He says He SO LOVED. Sit on that for a minute.

Living in the way of the world is exactly what God came to rescue us from because it results in death. He loves us too much to leave us to a certain death. While He is clear about what is not of the Father, but is of the world, God also offers His greatest love, His Son, to correct the problem of our worldliness and give us eternal life!

I am moved as I share with you the beautiful answer God gave as I prayed. Like a good Daddy, He told me a story about Love and Pride.

Where Love and Pride Go Their Separate Ways

From the beginning, Love was.

And it was pure.

And Pride entered in

to taint it and smear its name.

Love came clean, told the truth, and stayed near.

But Pride slithered in and puffed itself up, wrapped itself in a flag,

and hid close to Love that it might not be seen as separate.

But Love bent down and spread itself out on the ground

turned itself to blood and poured into every crevice until Pride was standing alone,

revealed,

exposed for what it was,

a strategy of ‘the against one’

a lie to fortify our insecurities.

PRIDE, the worst lie we tell ourselves,

the one that opposes humility while dressed in its clothing,

that satisfied look hiding Pride’s brothers, Fear, Doubt, and Shame.

But LOVE, ever true, reveals this,

And covers it all.

Would you judge My Love while I cover you?

Or would you simply allow Me to hide your insecurities

and give you a place to rest from the duties of Pride?

Pride offers nothing lasting,

only a temporary hiding place.

But Love offers a Home,

Where Peace and Goodness rest with Truth,

Deep in the heart

Forever.

Indeed, Love is Love.

But Pride is not.

I honor the word of the Lord and never take it lightly that He would speak to me in ways I can hear Him with clarity. My prayer is that you will experience Him in every wonderful way and be so completely overwhelmed by His love that nothing else matters.