PRIDE
This is the single greatest barrier between you and God. Pride is the foremost among the deadly sins and it is the root cause of most other sins. It can lead to bitterness, rebellion, hatred, anger, arrogance and many other sins. It is also very subtle and the one with pride won’t even realize that he is filled with pride.
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
– James 4:6
God resists the proud, this is one sin he does not compromise with. Although you may not see it, pride comes in the way of your relationship with God. Pride makes you arrogant, it gives you an impression of being more righteous or valuable than others. It creates invisible barriers between yourself and others. Without your knowledge the way you speak and behave begins to give others an impression low self esteem or self worth of themselves.
Pride [goeth] before destruction ..
– Proverbs 16:18
If left unchecked it can destroy a person and shut down love in their lives. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all types of pride, even Jesus acknowledged this. It can build to a point where you think you don’t need God.
Fasting is God’s appointed way of getting rid of pride and humbling yourself. Focus on God, ask for his help and he will help you.
Biblical Inspiration
The Devil or Satan was not always like how he is now, at one point he was one of God’s most beautiful creation. He was known as the son of the morning or Lucifer (Light bearer). The bible describes him as a signet of beauty, perfection and wisdom. He had gold and every precious stone in the heavens at his disposal. He is said to have walked in the presence of God (A great honour) and also in the garden of eden. He was a specially anointed “cherub” or a very high ranking angel. This description can be read in the book of Ezekiel.
Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground;
– Ezekiel 28:17
Unfortunately this kind of glory, power and splendor corrupted him and he was no longer happy with what he had. He became so proud that he wanted to be like God himself. He led a rebellion against God and was defeated.
For thou hast said in thine heart,I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit
–Isaiah 14:13
In spite of this, he did not give up on his pride. He realized he could not harm God and trying was useless, he then decided to take out his frustration on what was precious in the sight of God. He went after Adam and Eve and he tempted them to sin. Throughout the ages he has been an enemy to mankind because he knows that God loves us so much and we are going to inherit what he cannot.
Satan even tried to tempt Jesus when he was a man on earth with pride, thankfully Jesus was much stronger and could resist.
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, … “If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
– Luke 4:7
This in one of the many reasons that God does not compromise with pride, it can potentially destroy your relationship with him. He loves you too much for that to happen. This is why pride is called the Sin of the Devil.