Pride vs Purity

In Mark 7:14-30 we see a great contrast in human nature which we all struggle with. Our recovery from habitual or addictive sin resonates from our desire to have what we want even if it defies the will of God. The discussion of defilement in vs 14-23 lists a set of defilements which include sexual immorality, adultery, sensuality and pride. The physical indulgence is driven by emotion and we see pride as a list of the defilement. It is interesting that pride is one of the strongest motivating emotions in the human character structure. Our desire to have what we want overrides the scriptures that define behavior that God desires for us. It is in some sense that our pride drives us to defy the Creator? Yet the opposite character trait of humility is shown in the following scriptures of Mark 7:24-30 concerning the Syrophoenician woman. She pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter. Do we plead with Jesus for our own healing? This woman shows an amazing level of humility liking herself to a dog picking up scraps from the table. The contrast of defilement vs the gift of healing granted to the woman and her daughter is quite striking. Which of these results do we really want to claim? Defilement through our pride and selfish desires or pleading with Jesus for healing from a position of humility. Maybe we need to redefine our approach to prayer and our relationship with Jesus.