If pride has taken root in your heart, your prayers will hit a spiritual ceiling.
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6 (NKJV)
Think about that. God resists the proud. Not ignores. Not delays. Resists. That reality should shake us out of complacency. That’s more than just a lack of spiritual momentum. That’s divine resistance. God resists.
Pride is subtle. It doesn’t always show up as arrogance. Sometimes it just looks like unhealthy independence. You stop asking God for help, not because you’re trying to be rebellious, but because you think, “I’ve got this all figured out.” That can be pride. And God loves us too much to not interfere when we’re operating in ungodly self-reliance.
Or maybe pride shows up as religious performance, constantly trying to “earn” what’s already yours by grace. You fast more, pray louder, serve harder, not because you love God, but maybe because deep down, you think your effort is what gives you access to God. That’s pride.
When you walk in humility, you walk under the authority of the Word. And authority is what gives your prayer weight. But pride misaligns you from God’s authority.
Look at Acts 19:15, when demons said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” The seven sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons using Jesus’ name like a magic spell. However, because they lacked genuine submission to God, they lacked power.
You may be praying all the right words, but if you’re living self-reliantly, you're missing the posture to which God responds.
Humility isn’t weakness. It’s alignment. It’s saying, “Lord, I know what I think, but I trust what You say. I know my plans, but I yield to Yours.” That’s the heart posture that causes Heaven to lean in. If you want to pray prayers that move Heaven and shake Hell, humble yourself before God.
For more about this topic, watch “9 Destructive Behaviors That Weaken Your Prayers (Without You Realizing It)” on YouTube by clicking here.
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