Spiritual Pride

Humility matters for followers of Jesus. It is a Jesus-attribute. (See Philippians 2.) In that regard, here's one of the best messages I've ever heard: "We have an inborn persisting tendency to attribute to ourselves the successes of our spiritual life, the resistance we offer to temptation, the devotion we achieve, the discipline we keep and the good works we do. Surely we thank God for all that, but in our heart of hearts we congratulate ourselves on our exploits, and secretly worship our sword and our bow. We take as done by us what is done by God in us; even obvious graces from heaven stick to the soul and seem after some time to be connatural to us and springing from us. That is spiritual pride of the worst kind, and it really takes hold of a soul. It is enough to stop any spiritual progress at all. The disease is as dangerous as it is common." (From FAITH FOR JUSTICE by Carlos G. Valles.) I'll see you around the next bend in the river. The shadow of the cross is looming nearer.