Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 10
The speaker says overcoming pride involves daily repentance and praying specifically for humility, because you can’t “constantly pray” for a virtue while living contrary to it; what would a daily, specific humility-prayer sound like for you, and what changes would it force in the way you talk about your family, your achievements, your nation, or your spiritual life?
Another way to ask: What would a short, daily prayer for humility sound like in your own words? What would it change about how you talk about your family, your wins, your country, or your spiritual life?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, a daily humility-prayer would name pride honestly, ask God for grace to deny self, and ask for help to love God and neighbor in practical ways. If prayed sincerely, it would restrain boasting and push you to prefer others, rejoice in their good, and stop using spiritual or national identity as self-exaltation.
- He says the first step is honesty: “take it for granted that you are proud… infected,” and Lewis: if you think you’re not conceited, you are.
- He defines repentance as daily: “changing our mind, changing our actions… a daily practice… not once and done.”
- William Law on prayer: if you make a virtue “the substance of a whole prayer once every day,” you’ll see “a mighty change,” because you can’t pray for it and “live the rest of the day contrary to it.”
- He links overcoming pride to the greatest commands: love God fully and “love your neighbor,” noting pride and love “don’t go together.”
- He cites love’s description: “does not parade itself… is not puffed up.”
- Practical application areas he names: bragging about “house… vacation… business… children,” pride in “nation,” and pride in “being more biblical.”