The Bible says in Proverbs 16:18:
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

As we see in Isaiah 14:12-15, Lucifer, who later became the devil, was thrown out of heaven because of pride.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isaiah 14:12-13


When the devil realized that pride leads to destruction, he made it one of his major weapons. He deceived Adam and Eve, telling them that when they ate the forbidden fruit they would be as wise as God.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:6

Adam and Eve fell. The glory of the Lord that covered them departed and they realized they were naked and exposed. Pride disgraces its hosts beyond measure. The story of Pharaoh is another case in point. It was pride that caused him and his soldiers to drown in the Red Sea. One would expect that after experiencing the ten terrible plagues God sent to him and his people, Pharaoh would humble himself before the Most High, but instead, he remained stubborn, asking “Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2)?


By the time he realized that the Lord is the Almighty, it was too late for him to repent. To escape the spirit of pride you need to be genuinely born again and sanctified so that the mind of Jesus Christ may be in you. Philippians 2:5-7 describes the humility of Jesus Christ in spite of His greatness. Humility elevates while pride destroys. Choose wisely.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Once you start seeing yourself better than others automatically we drift from God.