Friday, January 23, 2026

Bible in a Year: ❏ Joshua 6-10 | ❏ Mark 15

Have you ever said something so blunt that your own words shocked you?  

Oof … words have come out of my mouth that surely weren’t pleasant for the person on the other end of the conversation. I’m not an argumentative person, but I have an uncanny ability to bring harsh sarcasm into disagreements, especially when standing firmly on what I think is "right."

This kind of sarcasm is a form of pride that can creep in (and right out of my mouth) when I least expect it.

Pride may start as an internal posture, like how we see ourselves, but it eventually expresses itself through our attitudes, words, and behaviors. In other words, pride reveals itself.

Some expressions of pride are obvious, such as boastfulness, a sense of superiority, or entitlement. These are easier to spot, both in ourselves and in others.

However, pride also has a way of minimizing itself and hiding beneath the surface of our hearts. It disguises itself in a way that feels reasonable, even responsible. Things like self-sufficiency that refuses help, defensiveness that resists correction, sarcasm that masks insecurity, or an assumption that you already "know" what you need to know, so feedback is dismissed before it's ever truly heard.

Understanding pride's disguises matters because pride isn't just a personality trait. Pride slowly shifts us from dependence to independence, from humility to self-trust. And that shift is often subtle enough to go unnoticed until we've already begun to drift away from God.

Proverbs 21:4 gives us a clear warning sign to watch for:
Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.

Pride manifests itself, working from the inside out. The posture of the heart eventually becomes a pattern of life. And when pride is left unexamined, it doesn't just affect how we treat others - it creates space between God and us.

But even if we find ourselves in a drift, it's never the end of our story. So, pay attention to what surfaces when you're challenged, corrected, or uncomfortable. Those moments often reveal more than we realize. 

Pride shows itself - but humility does too. And humility keeps us open, teachable, and close to the life God is patiently leading us toward.

Questions: 
Do you listen carefully when someone is offering you feedback? Or do you explain it away?

Do you invite God to search you, or do you assume you are good “as is”?

Next Steps: 
Slow down before responding. Notice moments when you feel defensive, dismissive, or quick to explain yourself. These can be early signs of pride at work.

Write it down. Journal where you see these reactions showing up. Share what you notice with a trusted friend and invite their honest perspective.

Practice humility. Choose one moment this week to listen, receive feedback, or ask for help instead of going it alone.

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 19
Today’s Prayer Focus: To be Broken Before Him  

Prayer:
Dear God, I have missed the mark of righteousness many times. Yet while I was still separated from you, you loved me and sent your Son to die for me. Thank you, Lord. Today, I offer my broken spirit to you, for you alone can make it whole. I come to you asking for forgiveness from (insert areas of sin here), knowing I need you. Heal me, God. Teach my heart to break for what breaks yours. In your Son’s name I pray, amen. 

Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 2:1
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the Daily LivingItOut.