The Secret to A Joyful Christmas

I Am A Sinner! Is this a shocking confession? When I asked Jesus into my heart, I spoke these words, in front of God and the entire Baptist Church where I was saved, " I believe in you God, I know you live in Heaven, please forgive me of my sins. "I know I am a sinner!!!" Send your son Jesus to live in my heart. To show me the way, and teach me your ways. All I have is yours God, and now I give it all to you!" If you are a Christian you have said the same exact words, and have been through the same process. It is the only way to be a Christian according to the word of God, and the only way to Heaven.

Now that is out in the open, lets talk about PRIDE!!! It is a big word!

- Pride is the root of all sin. It causes us to turn away from God instead of turning to Him. All disobedience has pride as it's root. All rebellion has pride behind it. All mistreatment of other people is caused by pride: someone putting their self and their feelings above the other person and their feelings.

What does the Bible say about pride?

Mark 7:20-23, " And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men ( notice God doesn't say "some men", he say's "men", meaning each and everyone of us!"), proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

James 4:6 "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Pride is faith in yourself. Faith in God is not faith in yourself.

Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18-19 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 29:23 " A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.

Pride causes people the inability to admit they are wrong. A person suffering from pride always blames others -- the fault is never their own! They refuse to admit that they have done anything wrong!

Let me voice my concern for a moment. In my 18 years of being a Christian, I have learned a profound lesson. "I am a sinner!" I have learned humility through some tough trials. I am still learning humility. The more I think I am perfect and judge God's people, the more the Lord slaps me in the face with humility. Let me explain "how the Lord slaps me in the face with humility". Typically he reveals a sin in my life through his word, the Holy Spirit, wise counsel, and often times difficult relationships. During these moments, I face Godly sorrow (meaning I feel rotten), I must confess my sin before God and often times other people. The recognition of my own sin, feels like a slap in the face. Usually it is a sudden realization, and the grieving process begins.  2 Corinthians 7:10 & 11 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldy sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done."  If the Lord hasn't slapped you in the face with humility, I would seriously question your Christianity. Here's the deal, we are all sinners. Pride is the root of all sin! Therefore, the only way for God to reveal our sin to us is by revealing our prideful condition. Let me tell you, I would much rather a physical slap, than a slap from the Lord with humility. The pain that yields from a Heavenly dose of humility is painful to the extreme. The Bible tells us we are to grieve over our sin. Grieving leads to repentance. Repentance leads us to reconciliation with the Father.

I am the first one to admit, I suffer with pride. "I am a sinner"! I admitted this to Jesus the day I was saved, and each day I admit it to Him again! I can't even count the times in the last year I have had to say " I am sorry!" Daily, I should or do apologize to God, my husband, kids, family or friends. I want to know God, I want to be more like Christ. The only way to achieve these goals is to have a learner's spirit. I need to pray often and listen. Listen to God, and to those He's places in my life.  I have learned when I "stop" and "listen", and really absorb what I am hearing, I realize there is something I need to learn. Continually I ask God, "What are your trying to teach me?"

Let me go out on a limb here! I am going to venture to say that pride causes people to keep sins, sickness, feelings, anger, and bitterness to ourselves. "We don't want to admit anything about us that might make us appear imperfect!" Therefore, we refuse to listen to other's feelings, we hold grudges without getting them out in the open, we don't talk to pastor's, friends, or loved one's for advice. We refuse to attend counseling services with loved ones, the counselor may cause us to think about "our own sin"! Individually we may attend counseling but only to talk about "us", how other's have hurt "me", rather than "how I can change me?". We need to ask God to reveal our pride. What can I do to change my behavior to help solve the problem? Who can I control? Me! I can only control me, my reactions, emotions, and behaviors. If we truly desire to be like Christ we must seek His strength and guidance to learn appropriate Godly behaviors.

What am I getting at? So many Christian's (including myself) often think we are perfect. We refuse to see our own sins. We refuse to allow God to reveal the sinfulness of our heart. We refuse to be transparent to other's about our inner struggles with sin. Who are we fooling? God knows our heart! He see's our sin, and knows our entire being to the very core. What is the consequence of refusing to deal with our sin? Pain, depression, rejection of those we love, feeling rejected by those we love, few sound and wholesome relationships, illness, separation from God, lack of joy, and ultimately a complete lack of peace. Peace can only come when we completely give up our right to ourselves, and allow God to live in and through us!


Why a message on pride one week before Christmas?  The Christmas season brings out hidden bitterness.  Emotions we have pent up over long periods of time.  When our raw emotions get jiggled around it is always hurtful to ourselves and other  people.  This Christmas allow God to reveal our hardened hearts (our pride).  For the sake of Christmas "Let's put aside our own facade's and admit to God we need His help"!  Who are we fooling?  Were not fooling anyone, and God knows us better than we know ourselves.  Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance with your unforgiving spirit, I can assure you know matter how good you think you are, God know's your heart!  He is waiting to heal our hearts, restore broken relationships, and show you a heart full of joy, hope, and eternal peace.  All you have to do is "Call out to the Father" and allow God to guide you  in the process of tearing down your wall of bitterness and pride.


Merry Christmas Blogger Friends,


I pray this Christmas, you allow God to work miracles in your hearts!


In Christ's Humility,


Crystal