2 Chronicles 25:1-2 – “Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.  ² And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of Pride and Perfect Hearts filled my consciousness.  Those are incomparable, right?   Certainly!  Perfect hearts are God’s desire and should be our goal. Pride is a preventative to everything God desires.

In 2 Chronicles 25, Amaziah did what was right, but… that is always troubling. The “but” problem. “But not with a perfect heart.”  That is the condition of multitudes today.  We go through the motions and do the right things, but the heart is not perfect (pure and surrendered).   In 2 Chronicles 27:16, when King Uzziah became rich, Pride filled his heart and opened the door to rebellion.

In 2 Chronicles 32, we read of Hezekiah’s response to danger.  He prayed and declared, (v7) – “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed in the presence of the king of Assyria, nor in the presence of all the armies that have come with him; FOR there is more with us than with him:”   All he has is his army and earthly weapons, but we have  The Living God! In vv 20-21, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed, and prayer unleashed the avenging angel of God!

The deterrent to Pride is Presence!  God’s presence dismantles all ground upon which Pride can be built. Presence brings humility and peace.   Presence brings clarity of mind and purity of heart.  Presence brings the power of God.

Titus 1:15-16 reveals a valuable truth – Profession is not possession! Knowledge is not faith!  What we say is secondary to what we do!  Actions not only speak louder than words, but they also reveal the heart.  Many go to church but never become the church.  Many add Jesus as an accessory rather than their foundation.

Pride cannot thrive in the presence of Grace.  Titus 2:11-14 is powerful.   Grace brings salvation.  Grace teaches us to renounce certain things and to move into a life that is a complete contrast to the self-life.  Grace produces an upward look.  Grace brings us into the presence of purity.  Grace enlightens, equips, and enables.

Clean hands and pure hearts experience His presence.  Pride blocks the person and the provision of Christ.  If we discover any semblance of Pride, we should run, not walk, to the altar!  Peace and purity will not cohabit with pride. No peace, look for the presence of Pride.   

My cry is the prayer of Psalm 51:10-13.  Cleanness of heart, rightness of spirit, presence of the Holy Spirit, restoration of overflowing joy, and embraced by the LORD! Protected from pride and propelled by peace through purity.

Lord, help us to rid ourselves of foolish pride so we can enjoy a pure heart!