The Shadow of Pride [Shadows]

Devotional

Day 1: Pride Blocks the Light of Jesus in Our Lives

Pride is anything that puts self over God, and it acts as a barrier that blocks the light of Jesus from shining fully in our lives. When we focus on ourselves—our achievements, our abilities, our own strength—we begin to look at the shadow of our own making rather than the source of the light itself. The more we allow pride to take root, the more it distorts our vision, making us believe that our success is our own doing, rather than a gift from God. But it is only because Jesus, the true Light, is shining on us that we even have anything to show. Let us remember to shift our focus from the shadow to the Light, allowing Jesus to illuminate every part of our lives. [06:38]

John 8:12 (ESV)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to take credit for what God has done, and how can you intentionally shift your focus from your own achievements to the light of Jesus today?

Day 2: Success Comes from God, Not Ourselves

It is easy to start out depending on God, but as blessings and success come, we can begin to believe that we are the source of our own achievements. Like King Uzziah, who prospered as long as he sought the Lord, we are warned that pride can lead to our downfall when we start to focus on the gift rather than the Giver. Every good thing in our lives is a result of God’s grace and provision, not our own strength or merit. Let us remember that our success is tied to God, and remain humble and grateful, always giving Him the glory. [09:05]

2 Chronicles 26:4-5, 16 (ESV)
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. ... But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God.

Reflection: Think of a recent success or blessing in your life—how can you tangibly give God the credit for it today, perhaps by sharing your testimony or expressing gratitude in prayer?

Day 3: Pride Leads to Destruction, but God Honors Humility

Pride is dangerously destructive and often difficult to detect in ourselves. Scripture warns us that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and He calls us to walk humbly with Him. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less and depending on God more. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, He promises to lift us up and show us favor. [22:36]

Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

James 4:6 (ESV)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Reflection: Where do you sense pride creeping into your heart—perhaps in your thoughts, words, or actions—and what is one step you can take today to practice humility before God and others?

Day 4: Remembering God’s Faithfulness Guards Against Pride

When we forget what God has done for us, pride can easily take root. Scripture reminds us that when God’s people were satisfied, they became proud and forgot Him. We are called to stay hungry for God, to remember His goodness, and to make altars of gratitude rather than platforms of self-promotion. Every blessing, every victory, and even every scar is a testimony to God’s faithfulness, not our own greatness. Let us continually remember where we were before Jesus and give Him thanks for all He has done. [24:43]

Hosea 13:6 (ESV)
When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

Reflection: What is one “altar” you can set up today—a physical reminder, a journal entry, or a conversation—to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in your life?

Day 5: Invite Others to Speak Into Your Life

Pride is hard to detect on our own, which is why we need trusted people who can lovingly point out our blind spots and call us higher. King Uzziah prospered as long as he listened to Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. Surrounding ourselves with “blind spot friends” who are not just yes-people helps us grow in humility and avoid the pitfalls of pride. Let us be open to correction, seek out wise counsel, and invite others to speak truth into our lives for our good and God’s glory. [20:07]

Proverbs 27:6 (ESV)
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Reflection: Who is one trusted person you can invite to honestly speak into your life about areas of pride or growth, and how will you reach out to them this week?

Sermon Summary

Shadows are a part of all our lives—those lingering reminders of our past, our struggles, and the things that follow us even when we try to move forward. One of the most persistent and dangerous shadows is pride. Pride is not always loud or obvious; sometimes it hides in our successes, our desire to be right, or even in our need for control. At its core, pride is simply putting self over God, and it can quietly block the light of Jesus from shining fully in and through us.

The story of King Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26 is a powerful warning. Uzziah started out seeking God, and as long as he did, God gave him success. But as his accomplishments grew, so did his pride. He began to believe his own hype, forgetting that every good thing in his life was a gift from God, not a result of his own greatness. This pride led to his downfall, and he spent his final years isolated and suffering. The lesson is clear: when we focus on the gifts and forget the Giver, we lose sight of the true source of our blessings.

Pride is dangerously destructive but difficult to detect. It distorts our vision, making us believe we are the reason for our own success. It can show up in the areas where we depend on ourselves the most, where we are most easily offended, or where we fight hardest for control. Even insecurity can be a form of pride, because it keeps our focus on ourselves instead of on God.

The antidote to pride is humility—putting God over self. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less often. It’s remembering that every breath, every opportunity, every blessing is from God. Humility listens to others, welcomes correction, and seeks out those who will speak truth into our blind spots. It remembers where we were before Jesus, and it turns platforms of personal achievement into altars of gratitude.

When we let the light of Jesus shine through us, not just on us, the shadow of pride loses its power. Our lives become less about our own glory and more about reflecting His. True revival and transformation begin not with self-promotion, but with getting out of the way so God’s light can shine unhindered.

Key Takeaways

1. Pride is subtle and often hides in our strengths and successes. It’s not just about boasting; it’s about any area where we put ourselves above God, whether through self-reliance, control, or even taking offense. Recognizing pride requires honest self-examination, especially in the places where we feel most self-sufficient. [05:14]
2. The story of King Uzziah teaches that success apart from humility leads to downfall. Uzziah’s blessings were directly tied to his dependence on God, but when he began to believe he was the source of his own success, pride took root and brought destruction. Our achievements are never just our own—they are gifts from God, and forgetting that is spiritually dangerous. [09:05]
3. Humility is not insecurity or self-deprecation; it is a posture of dependence on God. Insecure people can be just as self-focused as the proud, because their attention is still on themselves. True humility shifts our gaze from what we can or cannot do to what God can do through us, making room for His power and grace. [27:08]
4. We need people in our lives who will speak truth and challenge our blind spots. Pride is hard to see in ourselves, so God often uses others to help us grow. Surrounding ourselves only with “yes people” is a recipe for stagnation and self-deception; real growth comes from welcoming honest feedback and correction from trusted voices. [20:07]
5. Remembering God’s faithfulness keeps us humble and grateful. When we forget where we were before Jesus, or how He has carried us, pride creeps in. Turning our moments of success into altars of gratitude—rather than platforms for self-promotion—helps us stay grounded in the truth that every good thing comes from Him. [25:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introducing the Shadows Series
[01:41] - The Roots of Competition and Pride
[03:20] - Defining Pride: Self Over God
[05:31] - God’s Desire for Humility
[06:15] - Jesus as the Light and the Nature of Shadows
[08:04] - The Story of King Uzziah
[09:05] - The Danger of Focusing on the Gift, Not the Giver
[10:50] - Uzziah’s Downfall and the Distortion of Pride
[13:01] - Biblical Warnings About Pride
[14:34] - Recognizing Pride in Our Own Lives
[19:46] - The Importance of Listening to Others
[22:36] - Humility: God Over Self
[24:02] - The Power of Remembrance
[27:08] - Humility vs. Insecurity
[28:49] - Humility and Revival
[31:28] - Practical Steps and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 26:1-21 (ESV) — > And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. ... But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. ... And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.

Micah 6:8 (ESV) — > He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

James 4:6,10 (ESV) — > But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Observation Questions

According to 2 Chronicles 26, what was the key to King Uzziah’s success, and what changed that led to his downfall? [08:42]
How does Micah 6:8 describe what God wants from us, and how does that contrast with pride? [05:31]
In the sermon, what are some subtle ways pride can show up in our lives besides obvious boasting? [14:49]
What does James 4 say about God’s attitude toward the proud and the humble? [22:36]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Uzziah’s blessings and success were so closely tied to his dependence on God? What does this suggest about the source of our own achievements? [09:05]
The sermon says pride is “dangerously destructive but difficult to detect.” Why is pride so hard to see in ourselves, and what are some signs that it might be present? [05:14]
How can insecurity actually be a form of pride, according to the sermon? What’s the difference between humility and insecurity? [27:08]
Why is it important to have people in our lives who will speak truth and challenge our blind spots? What can happen if we only surround ourselves with “yes people”? [20:07]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to honestly examine areas where we depend on ourselves more than on God. What is one area of your life where you rarely ask for God’s help? How can you invite Him into that area this week? [15:06]
Think about a recent time when you felt offended or fought for control. How might pride have played a role in your reaction? What would it look like to respond with humility instead? [16:20]
The story of Uzziah warns against focusing on the gift instead of the Giver. Are there any successes or blessings in your life that you tend to take credit for? How can you turn those into “altars of gratitude” rather than platforms for self-promotion? [25:36]
The sermon said that pride can hide in our strengths and successes. Where are you most tempted to believe “I’ve got this” or “I did this on my own”? What would it look like to acknowledge God as the source in those moments? [14:49]
Who is someone in your life who can speak honestly to you about your blind spots? If you don’t have someone like that, what steps can you take to invite that kind of accountability? [20:07]
The difference between humility and insecurity was highlighted in the message. Are there ways you focus on your own weaknesses or limitations that actually keep your attention on yourself? How can you shift your focus to what God can do through you? [27:08]
The sermon encouraged us to remember where we were before Jesus and to stay grateful. What is one practical way you can remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in your life this week? [25:08]

Sermon Clips

Pride is anything that's self over God. And it's really interesting. In this day and age, we've all always had pride. Pride is a tale as old as time. We're gonna talk about... Scripture has so much to say on this topic. Like, I'm gonna warn you ahead of time that this pride could be a series here at Access. We could do eight weeks on pride. But I'm doing today the Shadow of Pride. [00:03:59] (22 seconds) #PrideOverGod

Offense happens when we believe our rights have been attacked. My rights have been attacked. So you offended me. You offended me. That's pride, friends. Pride says I have rights. To live with Jesus is to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow him. But pride says you offended me. [00:16:25] (30 seconds) #OffenseIsPride

Control might be the area that God is speaking to you about today. Some things you grab on. Control for, friend. That's pride. It's crazy to me that we think we have control of anything. God gives me my next breath to take. It doesn't have to happen. [00:16:57] (19 seconds) #ControlIsIllusion

If you surround yourself with only yes people, you are on the verge of destruction, my friend. Can I. Can I say something else? This is bad at this point. It's fine. Nobody's sending a pastor appreciation gift, and that's fine. And if you send something baked, I'm not gonna eat it because I'm gonna assume it's poisoned. Okay? Okay. Not everyone in your life who says something against you is a hater. Okay? Some of those voices. Some I will say some. Because you do have to protect access to your heart. Not everybody should get a voice, but there has to be somebody with a voice. [00:20:33] (38 seconds) #GuardYourCircle

A simple definition. If pride is self over God, humility is God over self. God, not my will, but yours be done. God, you're the way. God, I know what I want, but this is what gonna do. It's a dependence on God. It's that waking up every day going, God, thank you for my breath. Thank you for a roof over my head today. Thank you that when it rained, I had a bed to sleep in tonight. Humility remembers. Pride says I can. Humility says God can. And if God doesn't, I can't. [00:22:41] (41 seconds) #HumilityHealsPride

Remembrance causes us at those high points of our life. Instead of making platforms to make an altar, do you know what that means in the Old Testament, when something good would happen, they'd say, you know what we're doing? We're going to make an altar. We're going to make a monument. We're going to set up stones. Why? Why? So we won't forget what God did. A platform. Says, here I am stepping up onto this platform. Aren't I great? Look at me. Here I go. No, no, no, no, no. Don't make a platform. Make an altar. [00:25:25] (31 seconds) #LetLightShine

Humility isn't thinking less of yourself. Insecure people can be just as filled with pride. Humility is thinking of yourself less often. Insecure people can be some of the most self centered people because it's all about them. What I can't do, what I can't do. I'm not good enough for this. Stop talking about yourself. Start talking about God and what he can do through you. [00:27:00] (24 seconds) #ScarsAsAltar

You get out of the way and let him shine through you, not on you. Don't stop the light of his glory from shining. Let it shine through you and that passion that everything he does through you will change the whole world. [00:28:24] (16 seconds) #ShineThroughNotOn

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