Hello and welcome. Today we're continuing our look at conquering strongholds in our lives. Some strongholds allowed, some sneaking quietly, and some, like pride, are easy to spot in others. But tough to face up to in ourselves. In Second Samuel chapter 24, verse three, Joab warns King David, But Joab replied to the king, May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now. But why, my lord the King, do you want to do this? David wanted a census not for planning, but for pride. He wanted to count his people, to weigh his worth. Even Joab, not exactly known for his godliness, knew that this was a bad move. But still David pressed on, and the result? Loss, grief and regret. Pride never tells the truth. It promises so much more than it delivers. It says you've got this. You don't need help. You've earned this. But in doing so, it pushes God to the edges. I have to be honest and say I've been there, clinging to outcomes, measuring myself by what I do or how much I achieve. Trying to prove something even to God. But the truth is, the more we try to prove, the further we drift from grace. David eventually came to see the damage. He came back to God in humility. He repented, and God, in his infinite mercy met him there. That's the hope. Even when pride gets loud, grace speaks louder. So let me ask you, where might pride be calling the shots in your life right now? Are you pushing ahead without asking God? Are you trying to impress more than obey? The antidote to pride is surrender. It's choosing to kneel when we'd rather climb. It's letting God lead. Even when we think we've got it sorted. In the Salvation Army, we see the danger of pride in leadership, in ministry, even in service. But it becomes about us. The numbers, the praise, the platform. We lose sight of the mission. But when we humble ourselves, when we choose grace over ego, we get to join God in something that's far bigger than ourselves. So today, to surrender, choose honesty. Let God make the choices, not your pride. As we come to a close, think about this. What's one decision today? What do you need to let God lead? Not your pride. Let's pray together. Lord. Pride sneaks in when I least expect it. Help me to notice when I'm pushing you aside. Give me the courage to surrender. And the humility to let you lead. Shape me into someone who trusts your way more than my own. In Jesus name, Amen.