The Crown of Humility: Overcoming the Spirit of Pride

The story of King Saul is one of those stories with a wake-up reminder of how pride can infiltrate a leader’s heart and lead to spiritual ruin. Saul was once chosen by God and anointed as Israel’s first king. He began his journey as a humble but timid man, however, as his power and position grew, so did his arrogance. Saul’s life serves as a caution to leaders today, many of whom have fallen prey to the seductive influence of pride—a trait that opens the door to destruction.

Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” This scripture highlights the enemy’s strategy to deceive us into thinking that all is well while subtly leading us down a path of spiritual blindness. Once pride is firmly rooted, it becomes a stronghold that gives the enemy full access to wreak havoc in our lives.

The Leviathan Spirit and the Nature of Pride

Pride is not only a character flaw but it can also be a spiritual issue deeply associated with the Leviathan spirit. In Job 41, Leviathan is described as a powerful and untameable creature, symbolic of arrogance, rebellion, and self-exaltation. This sprit works through the flesh, exploiting the emptiness of a person’s soul and feeding on their vanity, such as pride in achievements, appearance, or abilities. It twists truth, resists correction, and thrives in environments where humility is absent. Leaders ensnared by pride often refuse accountability, resist godly counsel, and prioritize their reputation over their relationship with God.

The enemy, like a roaring lion, waits for such moments of vulnerability. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.” When leaders allow pride to blind them, they unknowingly open the door for the enemy to pounce, leading to spiritual devastation and often causing harm to those they lead.

Pride in Today’s Church

The spirit of pride is not limited to political or corporate leaders—it is alive and active in our churches. Many leaders, blinded by religious mindsets, equate external appearances of success with spiritual maturity. They seek validation through titles, accolades, and influence rather than cultivating a true relationship with God. This religious mindset causes a lack of intimacy with God and it creates a façade of holiness while the heart remains far from Him.

Jesus addressed this in Matthew 23:27, saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” These strong words remind us that God values authenticity over appearances.

Lessons from The Pain of the Process

In my book The Pain of the Process, I share how pride is a deceitful spirit that blinds us and obstructs intimacy with God. From an early age, society cultivates pride within us, disguising it as a virtue. However, pride often gives the enemy access to overwhelm us psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

One key lesson from my book is the importance of humility in leadership. I’ve seen many anointed leaders who instead of humbling themselves, retaliate in pride when faced with opposition. These moments reveal how the spirit of pride emerges and manifests, even in those who are spiritually gifted. As I wrote, “The higher we are lifted in the Spirit, the more we need to humble ourselves in the physical.” True leadership mirrors Jesus’ model: servanthood over superiority.

Another vital point is that pride often masks itself as strength or self-reliance, but it ultimately isolates and weakens us. The wilderness is a place where God confronts and refines these hidden flaws. It is where we are stripped of self-reliance and brought to a place of surrender. This process of refinement prepares us for a greater purpose, but only if we allow God to deal with the pride within us.

The Call to Relationship

A religious mindset is a breeding ground for pride, but a genuine relationship with God produces humility. True intimacy with God begins with acknowledging our dependence on Him. Leaders and believers alike must guard against the trap of self-reliance and to constantly seek the Lord in prayer, worship, and obedience.

James 4:6 declares, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This grace empowers us to resist the schemes of the enemy and to walk in humility. To avoid the pitfalls of pride, we must:

1. Examine Our Hearts Regularly: Psalm 139:23-24 encourages us to pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

2. Seek Accountability: Surround yourself with godly mentors and friends who will speak the truth in love and call out areas of pride.

3. Pursue Relationship Over Religion: A relationship with God transforms our character. It moves us from seeking titles and recognition to seeking God’s will and serving others selflessly.

A Call to Action

We as believers who have allowed pride to creep into our hearts: it is time to humble ourselves before the Lord. Repent, turn from self-reliance, and ask God to renew the right spirit within us. We need to take our focus off of religious activities and allow our faith to be rooted in a genuine relationship with God.

The enemy’s ultimate goal is to steal, kill and destroy us, but God desires to give us an abundant life. Pride is a trap, but humility is the key to freedom. Today, let us make a commitment to turn from our ways and pursue God with our whole being.

Let Saul’s story be a reminder to you that no one is immune to pride, but everyone can choose the path of humility.

Let us heed the warning of Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Choose humility, choose relationship, and choose life in Christ.