DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Proverbs 16:5; James 4:6 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

Proverbs 16:5 (AMP)
Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; Be assured he will not go unpunished.

James 4:6 (AMP)
But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Some parents teach their children to take pride in themselves and strive to become the best person they can be. Others constantly criticize and discourage their children, leaving them feeling inadequate and unworthy. Sadly, we often see the effects of both extremes in the people we work with, those who marry into our families, and even those who serve alongside us in our churches.

But is either of these what God is referring to in the verses above? I do not believe so.

Understanding the Danger of Pride

I believe these verses clearly identify the type of pride God is warning us about.

Arrogant in heart — This needs no real explanation. We all do our absolute utmost to avoid people who are arrogant and think they are above everyone else in all things.

Disgusting and Exceedingly Offensive — A proud person often couldn’t care less about their audience. They speak unholy words and are completely insensitive to the lives of others. While some folks are careful to speak heartfelt words, others are so raw and offensive in their behavior that we wouldn’t want our mothers or our children exposed to them.

Haughty and Self-Exalting — This means setting oneself up as greater than anyone else in speech, accomplishments, or achievements. Pride closes the heart of a haughty person to God’s grace because it essentially says, “I don’t need You.”

Will be punished — Parents often warn their children about the consequences of disobedience. In a far greater way, God has clearly shown us how He desires us to live through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His Word, and through faithful and devoted believers. Therefore, God leaves no room for doubt: He makes it clear that the prideful will be punished.

The True Blessing of Humility

Thankfully, God also shows us the beautiful opposite of pride, which is humility. A humble person is simply someone who turns away from self-righteousness. According to the scriptures, a humble life receives two amazing gifts:

Given the Holy Spirit — When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, God does not leave us to walk this journey alone. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live within us, guide us, teach us, convict us, and help us grow in Christlikeness. The Holy Spirit continually works to develop the character and qualities that honor God.

The old life begins to fade away, and a new life begins. Yet while we remain in this world, we will continue to face temptations and spiritual battles. That is why the presence and power of the Holy Spirit are such precious gifts to every believer.

Given more grace — James tells us that God gives “more grace.” We need that grace every day because our old nature naturally wants to put self first. Humility is not something we achieve on our own; it is something God develops within us as we submit ourselves to Him.

The right order of our priorities — I believe a huge part of walking in humility is keeping our allegiance in the proper, biblical order. A humble heart keeps things lined up like this:

God → Family → Others → Church → Me

This order reminds us that through God’s amazing grace, and entirely above our own selfish desires, we can learn to serve others just like our Savior modeled for us.

Please remember: Before Christ, we naturally lived to exalt ourselves; After Christ, our greatest desire should be to exalt our Savior. I believe you will recognize and agree with the selfish things we all used to do before accepting Christ. My hope and heart’s desire today is that you will ask the Holy Spirit every single day to fill you with the grace needed to overcome the prideful ways of this world. Let us live a humble and sincere life patterned after Jesus Christ, until the beautiful day He calls us home to our eternal home in Heaven!.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word that lovingly warns us about the dangers of pride and teaches us the beauty of humility. Forgive us for the times we have trusted in ourselves more than in You, sought our own glory, or placed our desires above Your will.

Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit and grant us the grace needed to live humble and obedient lives. Help us to keep You first in all things and to serve others with the same love and compassion that Jesus demonstrated throughout His life.

May our hearts remain soft before You, our minds surrendered to You, and our lives be a testimony of Your transforming power. Teach us daily to walk in humility so that You may be honored and glorified through us.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!