Pride must die in you, in order for God’s love to shine through you! C.S. Lewis said, “Pride is a spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense!” There are 2 types of pride, one good and one bad! The one stemming or branching from self-righteousness or conceit is sin and God hates it because it hinders and stifles our relationship with God! Psalm 10:4 explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Throughout Scripture we are told about the consequences of pride. Proverbs 16:18-19 tells us that “pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride has kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as Savior because they refuse to admit their sin and acknowledge that in their own strength they can do nothing to inherit eternal life. This is a constant stumbling block for prideful people. So, is there really a debate as to why pride is such a big deal to God? Look at it this way, prideful people steal God’s credit, His glory, and His worship! Whatever you have or will accomplish in your lifetime would not be possible if God didn’t pen it before your life began (Psalm 139: 16). Hence, the reason God is the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). We should all embrace the benefits of spiritual humility and remember that we don’t know the end from the beginning nor the beginning from the end! Tarot readings and horror-scopes are frivolous at best! If we want to truly allow God’s love to shine in our lives, He must increase and we must decrease (John 3:30)!! So today, put down the Starbucks coffee and try drinking a cup of humility because blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The “poor in spirit” are those who recognize their utter spiritual bankruptcy and their inability to come to God aside from His divine grace.