Proverbs 29:23 One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

My little boy responded to a situation this past week in a way that I didn't think would occur until he was much older. I was sanding a piece of furniture while he was painting. We were surrounded by friends from church. He came up to my project and was about to add a great, big stroke of paint on my freshly sanded wood. In an effort to prevent a new paint job on my hard work, I said "No, no, no."

I've corrected him before, and he was fine. This time was different though. He looked around the room and saw that people were watching us. THEN, his little lip trembled and his eyes watered. My three-year-old was EMBARRASSED. Of course, I felt so small. I never want to be the cause of him feeling insignificant. I did not know that pride existed at such a young age.

Had he not been offended, I would have just redirected him back to his big roll of white paper that he was painting. However, I took time to hold him and reassure him. My sweet baby's pride diverted both of us from our tasks at hand.

As evidenced in a toddler reacting this way, pride is a natural reaction. However, what we do with that pride will determine the outcome of that particular situation and (on a greater scale) the direction of our lives.

Pride has robbed people of their time, opportunities and healing. Pride manifested through fear of failure will keep a person from fulfilling God's plan for their lives...from applying for that promotion...from pursuing that dream business plan.

Pride manifested through the refusal to say, "I'm sorry - I was wrong" will cause time to be lost between loved ones...will cause relationships to be devastated.

Pride manifested through the denial of a person who desperately needs help will cause undue stress and pressure and eventually complete burnout...left in a condition worse than before.

I challenge you today to always be honest with yourself and those you love. No one has it all together, and the people that love you most will be there to pick you up if you do fall. Never allow pride to hinder you from being all that you can be in your career, your relationships and your purpose.

Dear Lord, I thank You for the opportunities You have before me. Help me to cast pride aside and to heed Your voice and Your plan for my life.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.