“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
Cleaning out our temple this week has been challenging. What a brave decision to take an honest inventory of your mind, will and emotions to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal and remove all unrighteousness in exchange for his righteousness. As you are finishing up the first week of your fast, you may find yourself a little extra irritable or tired. It is in this place that two attributes like to rear their ugly heads: selfishness and pride. Since we have invited the Holy Spirit to be in charge, you can rejoice when selfishness and pride are revealed because that means you get to get rid of them. In God’s deep love for us, he never leaves us as we are but always makes a way for us to be set free from sin and become more and more like him. When you reject selfishness and pride, you are allowing God to transform you to express the aspects of his nature that were always meant to shine in and through you. The gifts that God has placed inside of us are meant to be used through the filter of humility, kindness, love, and selflessness. Removing selfishness and pride prepares our heart to generously pray for and minister to others. Any healing, any miracle, any deliverance that takes place is not because of you, it is because of Christ in you and the Holy Spirit moving through you. Romans 8:11 says the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. It is important to remove every hindrance that would prevent the fullness of that power from flowing in you. Let’s look at a few ways pride might be trying to take up residence in your life. Pride says I know how to do things better. Pride says I don’t want to be vulnerable and expose my weaknesses, even if it means staying stuck. Pride says I don’t need help; I can do everything on my own. Pride says I would rather stay in bondage than let someone help me. Pride says I am going to do things my own way. Selfishness says I am more important than anyone else. Selfishness says my needs and wants supercede yours.The Bible is very clear that pride brings destruction and selfishness ends in ruin. So let’s seek the Holy Spirit again to clean house.
Listening Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any area in your life where you have been prideful. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any area where you have been selfish. Take inventory of your time, your relationships, your family, your job and your finances. Fear and control can be roots to pride and selfishness. Ask the Holy Spirit what is at the root of pride and selfishness for you. Write down what you hear.
Heavenly Father, I confess that I have struggled with pride and selfishness in my life. I know that these are hindrances to my relationship with you and with those you have put in my life. I no longer wish to operate in pride and selfishness. I specifically confess I have had pride in _____________. Forgive me for thinking I could do things better myself and in my own strength. Forgive me for thinking higher of myself than of you. Additionally, in my flesh, I have put my needs and desires above others when I should not have. I confess selfishness in _____________. Forgive me for not trusting you to be or provide more than enough in those areas. In the name and by the blood of Jesus, I renounce pride, selfishness, fear, and control. I break all agreements I have made with them and repent of them. I command pride, selfishness, fear, and control to leave me now in Jesus name. Holy Spirit, I ask you to come and take residence where pride, selfishness, fear and control once lived. I invite you to clean each and every area of my life. I choose to exchange humility for pride and generosity and selflessness for selfishness. Thank you Holy Spirit for making me new. In Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.
You have done some powerful cleansing this week. As you continue to fast and pray over the days and weeks to come, it is likely that the Holy Spirit will allow more things to surface to be cleaned out. If so, be encouraged! When we are aware of sin, we can get rid of it. When the yuck surfaces, be quick to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is at the root of your irritability. Renounce the root and then invite the Holy Spirit to occupy the place where sin has been removed. Praise God for the victory you receive and the ground you have taken back!
Resource: Bible Verses on Selfishness/Pride
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8)
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:14-18)
Worship Song:
“Refiner” by Maverick City