Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:31-35 ESV)
The words pride and fall are synonymous. They go hand-in-hand. After all, Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Peter said that he would never fall away; however, fall is exactly what he did. Matthew 26 ends by telling the account of Peter’s denial, and it is no shock that it went exactly as Jesus had predicted.
I wonder if things would have gone differently if Peter had changed his words and/or his emphatic tone with Jesus. What if he had said, “Jesus, I am sorry, because I know that I am highly capable of falling away. Please teach me how I can withstand the temptation and how I can stand with you.”
You see, we have to be real careful about saying that we will never do something. We are highly capable of any and all sins, and many people in the public eye have fallen from the soap boxes they were standing on.
We can break our pride with humility, or God can break our pride with humiliation! Pride says, “I don’t need God. I’ve got this!” Humility says, “I need God!”
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV)
We must be very cautious about making Pride Full statements. And, it shouldn’t be because we want to avoid a fall. It should be because we are aware of how much we really do need God!
Challenge: Take some time to fall to your knees, and express to God how much you really do need him!
Align Your Mind 
Loved this one on pride. We have all heard never say never but what you added to this was :teach us what to do when temptation comes our way . Learning to be taught can save us from much pain.
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That is so true Sarah. Thank you for the response, because you made me aware that I need to add that we must have a teachable spirit. Typically, a prideful spirit is unteachable…
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“You see, we have to be real careful about saying that we will never do something. We are highly capable of any and all sins, and many people in the public eye have fallen from the soap boxes they were standing on.”
Yeah… that’ll preach!!! Some righteous toe-stomping right there… and I need it just as much, if not more, than everyone else!!!
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