The PRIDE Disease

Donny and I taught a marriage seminar this week.
We decided that the best marriage advice is to kill pride.
We compared it to a disease, like cancer, that can spread within us without us even realizing it.
If untreated, it will ruin us and the relationships we have with others, especially our spouse.
Here's a summary:

A. DEFINITION of PRIDE:
1- Arrogant, Hauty, Overbearing
2- Emnity (hatred, hostility, opposition) toward God & Others

B. SYMPTOMS:
1- Feeling Bothered or Selfish (ungenerous or seeking more than others)
2- Acting like a Dictator (controlling, demanding, forcing our way)
3- Justifying our Hatred (feeling angry and unforgiving or unmerciful)
4- Feeling Cold (repelling affection, easily offended)
5- Low Evaluation of Others (feeling critical, desiring to gossip)
6- Feeling Contentious (tug of war feeling= emnity, preparing for battle- stacking your case)
7- Feeling Defensive (trying to excuse yourself and blame others)
8- Unteachable or Disobedient (resisting counsel (acting deaf), unwilling to change or learn)

C. TREATMENT: LOVE
1- Focus on the other person's needs who is bothering you instead of your own.
    -Spend less money and give more to others.  (SACRIFICE)
2- Prolong decisions until there is an enthusiastic joint agreement (win-win).
    -Ask respectfully for favors and let go of unrealistic expectations.
3- Restrain your anger.  Recognize the offense, pause (don't react immediately), evaluate it's degree, decide whether to lovingly confront them or forbear (drop it)
4- Sleep or give SERVICE to them to calm down or soften your heart.
5- Pump in positive thoughts about them.
6- Pray constantly, sing hymns, and have a sense of humor
7- Be quick to apologize and admit you are wrong, even if you are not.
(Look in the MIRROR when things go wrong= blame yourself;
Look out the WINDOW when things go well= give the credit to others)
8- Take each others' counsel.  Regularly have chat time, not in the heat of the moment.