Avoid Pride

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 ESV

In a story titled “BYU runner's stumble leads to unforgettable comeback” published Sunday, it was reported that Kenneth Rooks, a junior at BYU, was competing in the 3,000 meter steeplechase when he fell a little over two minutes in. Rooks hopped back on his feet and booked it for the finish line. But back at the watch party, it was impossible for the teammates to stay still. “We were all screaming our heads off, we were so excited,” said Caleb Johnson. “I lost my voice and am still trying to get It back.”Rooks sprinted into the top three and easily passed his competitors, locking in first place.“There were tears in my eyes and a couple other people watching. Especially for those of us that have known Kenneth for a long time, run with him every single day, do workouts with him, know the kind of person that he is. It’s such a special feeling to watch,” said Aidan Troutner.Even with the fall, Rooks ran ten seconds faster than when he won the NCAA steeplechase championship in Texas back in June.But this is the comeback story that BYU will always remember. “I’m going to look back on this and know nothing is impossible," said Garrett Stanford. "Any moment that you feel like you fall on some proverbial hurdle you can still come back and you can even win.”

And you know, when it comes to things that can cause us to fall, (and possibly never get back up) the Bible is very clear that spiritual pride, if not removed from our lives, is a hurdle that will eventually lead to our destruction. You see pride, as defined biblically, is an arrogance that makes a person believe they don’t need God's merciful forgiveness—and causes them to see themselves as too important to ever need God for anything. This mindset (and heartset) goes hand in hand with a “haughty spirit” or an attitude of superiority over others. Which is the very reason pride must be dealt with at once. Left to grow, it will become a stumbling block that’s impossible to overcome. 

So check your heart often my friend… and I mean often. Ask the Lord to point out any areas where you might be harboring pride and then pray that He would help you remove it. This is the only way you can run the race with endurance and avoid falling. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that pride is a very harmful and poisonous attitude and mindset, both to us and to those around us. Lord, please cause us to recognize any areas where we might be or become prideful; that we might work to overcome those areas and remain humble. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!