You vs. God: the Fight that Doesn't Last Very Long

"...for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.   Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
I Peter 5:5b-7

The most predictable battle ever recorded in the Bible is that of Jacob wrestling with God.  Hmm... a mere man fighting God... I wonder who's going to win!  Why would anyone dare take on the Lord Himself?  Isn't it kind of obvious that He is so much more powerful than we could ever imagine?  Actually, we have no right to point a finger at Jacob, because there are are even more fingers pointing back at us.

God absolutely abhors pride.  It's listed as the first of seven abominations in Proverbs 6:17; it was the cause of Lucifer's fall in Isaiah 14; it was the original sin of man in Genesis 3.  Strife, contention, and rebellion stem from the mother sin of pride.  Is it any wonder that God is sickened with this offense?  With this thought fresh on our mind, is it reasonable to accept that God resists the proud?  It is extremely reasonable!

When experiences come that seem like a direct attack upon us, we often automatically blame them on Satan by using the Scripture three verses ahead: "...because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8b).  Instead of going through this routine every single time, consider this:  Have I acted, spoken, or thought in such a way that God is executing judgement upon my pride?

If there is one thing God has no desire for you to be associated with, it is pride.  He loves you too much to let it slide, because He knows that it slowly leads you into worse atrocities.  Therefore, when we allow pride to creep into our thoughts and behavior, He cannot but resist us.  Willfully rebelling against God is an open invitation for Him to withstand you, and as we discussed in the first paragraph, it's a very predictable fight.

God knows what pride does to people, which is why He goes to war against it.  It caused Lucifer's Rebellion, the Fall of Man, Saul losing the crown, the downfall of Solomon, Haaman's death, and the list goes on and on.  If you are harboring pride or any of its ugly children, please humble yourself!  There is nothing more beautiful than nothing between your soul and the Savior.  Remember, He "giveth grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5).  Instead of wrestling with God like Jacob, walk with Him in humility.  And when adversarial times do come, you will know that God is for you and not against you.