For many of us (like this author), the sin of pride is one that is always before us. It is a fault that we struggle with throughout our lifetime.
St. Maximos the Confessor says, "Self-esteem is eradicated by the hidden practice of the virtues, pride, by ascribing our achievements to God."
It helps us to give serious and prayerful thought to those times we've succumbed to prideful thoughts.
When we experience prideful thoughts, we need to prayerfully labor for a 'change in perspective.' We must work, confessing, fasting, praying that this effort will translate to a change in heart.
The goal, not in 'any' work, but in EVERY work is to labor seeking God's will, so that our efforts bring glory to Him. In the limit of the example, our participation in the effort could and should go unnoticed!
The hammer can take no pride in having driven a nail. The hammer is a suitable tool for the job. The craftsman would never choose a saw to drive the nail. The craftsman knows the task to be accomplished and employs the proper tool to do the work. When a God-given task comes our way, we call on Him to bless what we are about to do. Then we do our best to bring honor to the effort He has appointed for us. When it's done, we thank Him, regardless of how it turns out. For it goes well, we've participated in sending Him the glory. But if the result is less than good, we ask to be blessed by Him to learn what He has appointed for us to learn. In neither situation is there any room for "self". All that matters is the Lord's divine will, and our sincere effort to be a worthy servant.
St. John Climacus taught this: "An angel fell from heaven without any other passion except pride, and so we may ask whether it is possible to ascend to Heaven by humility alone, without any other of the virtues."
When we are tempted by the sin of pride, let our thoughts turn to those times when our words, deeds, thoughts were less than pure and honorable. In this, prideful thoughts dissipate at the recognition of what we are still capable of IF we allow ourselves to fall into those same prideful ways in the future.
St. Anthony wrote, "Having fallen from his heavenly rank through pride, the devil constantly strives to bring down also all those who wholeheartedly wish to approach the Lord; and he uses the same means which caused his own downfall, that is pride and love of vainglory. These and similar things are the means by which the demons fight us and hope to separate us from God."
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