"Am I a Proud or a Broken Person?"

I am continuing to study and meditate on brokenness. I am currently reading a book written by, Nancy Leigh Demoss, called "Brokenness." The fourth chapter has really been amazing to me to say the least. I want to share with you an excerpt from this chapter because it has really caused me to meditate on whether I am a proud person or a broken one.

"Years ago a missionary served in a region in Africa that had known true seasons of revival. He reported that whenever he would mention the name of any Christian, the national believers would ask him, "Is he a committed Christian?" or "Is he a hardworking Christian?" They wanted to know, "Is he a broken Christian?"

Are you a broken Christian? Am I? How can we know?

Over the years I have asked the Lord to show me some of the characterisics of a broken person, and how they compare with a person with a proud spirit. In the form of a "proud versus broken" comparison, I have listed some of the things that have come to my attention as I have allowed the Lord to search my own heart. This is by no means an exhaustive list; the Lord will undoubtedly show you other charateristics as you open your heart to Him.

Let me encourage you to avoid the temptation to skim through this list. Instead, take time to read it prayerfully and ask God to show you, "Am I a proud or a broken person?"

There are 35 questions that she gives to help us to evaluate our hearts. I am only going to list the first five of them.


"Attitudes Towards Others"


1. Proud people focus on the failures of others and can readily point out those faults.

Broken people are more conscious of their own spiritual need than of anyone else's

2. Proud people have a critical, fault finding spirit. They look at everyone else's faults with a microscope but view their own with a telescope.

Broken people are compassionate --they have the kind of love that overlooks a multitude of sins; they can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven.

3. Proud people are especially prone to criticize those in authority--their pastor, their boss, their husband, their parents,--and they talk to others about the faults they see.

Broken people reverence, encourage, and lift up those that God has placed in authority, and talk to God in intercession, rather than gossiping about the faults they see in others.

4. Proud people are self-righteous; they think highly of themselves and look down on others.

Broken people think the best of others; they esteem others better than themselves.

5. Proud people have an independent, self-sufficient spirit.

Broken people have a dependent spirit; they recognize their need for God and for others."


My thoughts: Our only hope is in the sovereign grace of God. God's grace is sufficient. It's only because of God's grace that we even come to brokenness because He is the only one that can free us from lusting after evil things. Only the humble can obtain the grace of God because God resists the proud. God commands us to be humble and not proud.

"Humble"--means "to make oneself low." If we are consciously living in the presence of God we will live a life of humility. The weaker we are the more God's grace is able to shine through in our lives.

James 4:10--"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

James 4:6--" But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is a virtue. Humility is not considered a virture in our society today. People in our society today think they are too good to serve and that is why they have trouble submitting to those in authority in their lives. They would rather be served than serve themselves. They want people to revolve around them and their needs. They seek to control people and are prone to manipulate rather than be controlled. When we do not submit and humble ourselves before God then it is a sign that we are dissatisfied with Him. "God is the most glorified in us when we are the most satisfied in Him"--John Piper.

We are commanded in scripture to submit to those in authority over us and clothe ourselves with humility.

1 Peter 5:[5-6]--"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,"

2 Corinthians 12:9--"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

We must rejoice in our weaknesses because Christ is revealed through them. God will use us in the lives of others if we allow Him to work through our weaknessess. We need to confess our weaknesses to God and own up to our imperfections insteading of being self-confident. We need to be constantly seeing ourselves as trophies of God's grace rather than victims of our circumstances.

Are you a broken Christian? How would you answer this question? If those around you were asked if you were a broken person what would be their response? Based on the condition of your heart, would God say you are a broken person or a proud one?

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison