Pride: A Hindrance to Revival

November 15, 2023 / by Dr. Jeff VanGoethem

All human beings are selfish. I consider myself “Exhibit A.”

Not that I am extrapolating my own flaws on to everyone else, but this is the teaching of scripture:

ALL we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—EVERY ONE—to HIS OWN WAY (Isa. 53:6).

Yes, we are all selfish, we all desire “our own way.” Why is this a hindrance to revival? Essentially it is a hindrance to the God-centered, self-emptying prayer that is necessary for revival. If we are all going our own way, can we really pray, “Lord your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Don’t we have to empty ourselves of self-centered pride to pray such a prayer?

Revival is God’s will. God is on a mission of spiritual awakening. It is incumbent upon us to seek and pray for this. Do I want what God wants? Pride often gets in the way:

• The pride of self-focus. Being concerned firstly with MYSELF and what I want.
• The pride of self-confidence. I can do this, I don’t need God’s help.
• The pride of self-sufficiency or self-satisfaction. Feeling that I have it together, I don’t need God to do anything, I’m fine. I’m happy with how things are. That’s the way I am, I’m not changing.

But think, what does God want? God wants our love, our attention, our worship. The first and greatest commandment is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37). God wants to bring spiritual refreshment to each of us as well as awakening to the broader world. God deserves to be the center of attention.

Can we ask God to help us empty ourselves of our self focus, self-confidence and self-sufficiency so that we can pray this way?

“Self-sufficient people don’t sense a need for God or what God can do.” (Roy Fish).

We are needy. The world is needy. Let us pray from the humble posture of need to a revival-giving, awakening God.

Pastor Jeff VanGoethem has been in pastoral ministry for 40 years, including nearly twenty as Senior Pastor of East White Oak. He has returned to East White Oak after pastoring for some years in Dallas,Texas to serve as Associate Pastor of Spiritual Development and Missions. He is married to Karen.
They have four daughters and four grandchildren.