Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1, LSB
Sin is a human condition. The only cure is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our pride is a part of this condition and is most often a barrier to our coming to Christ. We either feel pride in our strength or become caught up in shame, which still is pride, in a sense, believing that we are too far gone for God to save. Pride is a response to fear and uncertainty. When we realize we are not in control, we try to take control and guide things in the direction we would like them to be. We don’t like the feeling of being afraid so we act as though we have it all together. Shame may creep in, and we try to hide our inability to do anything or our failure to keep ourselves free of temptation and instead fall straight into it. In Christ, we are to be humble and receive our Lord’s forgiveness and seek His guidance to keep us away from those things that tempt us and help us not to fall into the traps established by the devil and his minions but fall into our Lord’s warm embrace. In Christ, we are promised that we are never left to our own devices, but wherever we go, He walks with us.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.