Pride; My Evil Twin

Since my girls were little, I dreamed of making their wedding dresses one day; and very fortunate to have had the opportunity to do so.  Lately, my weekends have been packed trying to prepare for our daughter Nikki’s wedding and as promised years ago, I have been diligently attempting to make her wedding dress.  With lots of communication & direction from the Lord, Nikki’s wedding dress finally started to take shape the way she envisioned it.  However, all my efforts came to a cease when I just couldn’t grasp what I needed to do on the back bottom portion of the dress to achieve the look Nikki & I were after.  This past weekend, my girls & I went back home for Nikki’s wedding shower, so I decided to take Nikki’s wedding dress with us in hopes that my Mom & sister, Anna, could help me understand what I was doing wrong.  (Both of them are amazing seamstresses!)  They found the solution right away.  And without hesitation, my sister volunteered to go ahead and do that section for me and then send it back.   

But oh no; I wouldn’t hear of it!  After all….it was my daughter’s wedding and I was the one making it for her.  So I “ungraciously” declined her offer.   To be honest, I completely over-reacted; not only offending my sister, but I grieved the Holy Spirit too.  And when my sister went home, she left without the dress.

Ever have one of those gentle nudges on the shoulder from the Holy Spirit saying, “What are you doing?  Is your pride more important than your daughter having the dress of her dreams and feeling like the most beautiful bride in the world?”  I immediately turned to my Mom and said, “I’m leaving the dress with Anna” and without further hesitation, I brought the dress to her and apologized for my response to her generosity. 

I learned a valuable lesson in pride this past weekend; one of my evil twins that surfaced when I least expected it too.  Although I’m not proud of that moment, I’m glad it happened so that I could recognize & address that area in my life that needed to change.  All because of pride, I almost robbed my daughter’s joy for her special day and more than likely could have crushed my sister’s spirit; which was not my intent.   

Folks, pride buried deep within us is just not worth it!  We end up hurting others around us; we grieve the Holy Spirit, it hinders us from growing closer to the Lord and most of all, it hinders our witness as a Christ follower. 

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 NKJV  Haughty actually means arrogant, puffed up & over-confident; none which will ever be pleasing to the Lord. So if it doesn’t please my Lord, I don’t’ want any part of it!

So ask yourself, “What’s my evil twin?” 

What is the Lord dealing with you to change today?  Let me encourage you to be open to His direction and remember what we are told in Hebrews 12:6 NCV, The Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as His child."

And most of all, remember that the Lord loves you more than you can imagine; especially when He disciplines you.

^“My child, do not reject the Lord's discipline, and don't get angry when He corrects you. The Lord corrects those He loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in.”  Proverbs 3:11-12 NCV

Make it simple on yourself!  Stop resisting the Holy Spirit and wave good-bye to your evil twin.

Be blessed my family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!
Cyndy