Introduction:

In this Freedom Prayer Guide, we are going to take time to prayerfully:

• Identify places we have walked in pride

• Confess and repent of the ways we have walked in pride.

• Replace the bondage of pride with the freedom of humility

Biblical Foundations:

The Scriptures describe a proud person as one who has shifted their confidence from God to themselves. They are arrogant, stiff-necked, self-centered and presumptuous. This pride leads to downfall, while humility leads to wisdom and honor. Jesus loves us and wants to lead us out from the bondage of pride and into the freedom and blessing of humility.

Psalm 68:5-6 (NIV): “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the __________ live in a sun-scorched land.”

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Luke 14:11 “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the forgiveness you have extended to me through your Son. Please search our hearts, our thoughts and our we have been walking in pride.

Confession:

During this phase of the freedom journey, we want to turn to God’s Word and God’s Spirit to highlight to us place where we have walked in pride, and then we are going to take time to prayerfully confess this.

Rebellion Inventory:

Prayerfully read over the following list of common areas people walked in pride in Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any areas you have in the past or are currently walked in pride

• Taking pride in one’s own physical strength and ability (1 Samuel 17:42-44)

• Taking pride in one’s own successful accomplishments (2 Chronicles 26:16-21, Proverbs 21:2)

• Taking pride in one’s own religious zeal and moral superiority (Luke 18:9-14)

• Taking pride in one’s own wealth (Ezekiel 28:2)

• Taking pride in one’s own wisdom (Proverbs 3:7)

• Taking pride in one’s own social status (Luke 16:19-31)

• Taking pride in considering yourself better than others (Philippians 2:3)

• Taking pride in putting yourself first instead of looking to the interest of others (Philippians 2:4)

Some Behaviors Associated with Pride in Scripture:

• Mocking others (Proverbs 21:24)

• Unwillingness to accept advice (Proverbs 13:10)

• Relational strife (Proverbs 13:10)

• Ingratitude (Romans 1:21-22)

• Self-praise (Proverbs 27:2)

• Ignoring correction (Proverbs 15:31)

• Self-reliance (John 15:5)

• Being unwilling to admit mistakes (2 Chronicles 7:14)

• Not trembling at God’s word (Isaiah 66:2)

As you review the above list, prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any way you have harbored pride like those above, or other things like these that may not be mentioned on this list. Write down what the Holy Spirit brings to your remembrance.

Repentance:

A working definition of repentance encompasses experiencing godly sorrow over your sin (2 Corinthians 7.10), turning away from that sin and turning towards the Lord (1 Thess 1:9), as well as bearing the fruit of genuine change (Matt. 3.8). The Lord extends mercy and forgiveness to the repentant (Isaiah 55.7).

After you have prayerfully considered the Pride Inventory, we have an opportunity to experience the freeing power of Jesus as we confess and repent of these places of sin and receive forgiveness and grace for humility.

Guided Prayer of Confession, Repentance and Receiving Forgiveness:

Lord, I agree I have been proud in ________________________________. Thank You for forgiving me for my pride. I choose to humble myself before You and others. I choose to place all my confidence in You and none in my flesh. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is there anything you need to do to practically as a next step in bearing the fruit of repentance?

Examples:

• David’s repentance (2 Samuel 12:13-23): After being confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sin with Bathsheba, David humbled himself and immediately confessed, fasted, and prayed.

• Josiah’s response to God’s law (2 Kings 22:11-20) Upon hearing the rediscovered Book of the Law, King Josiah tore his robes, humbled himself before God, and led national repentance.

• Jesus demonstrated humility by washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-17)

Replace & Restore:

Repentance leads to sin being replaced with new life, healing and renewal.

Often, our pride masks places where we have been insecure, ashamed, or fearful. As we we release our pride, Jesus wants to replace it with healing for our broken hearts (Luke 4.18) that we might live out our calling to be humble.

Use this guided prayer to receive a fresh healing in the place of our insecurity, shame and fear:

Jesus, thank you that you see me. As I humble myself before you, I open up my heart and life to you in a fresh way and ask for you to heal my heart.

Take time to sit in silence for 1-2 minutes and listen to the Lord. Pay attention to what you sense the Holy Spirit doing in you and speaking to you during this time.

After a minute or two have each person in the group share what they sense the Spirit speaking or doing in them.