BAM

The Lord is not talking about our natural desire to succeed. There are occasions when we need to step forward and volunteer for service or come to the aid of someone in distress; the Lord is not referring to such things when He says 'exalt himself'. Sometimes we need to stand up for the truth, to be counted as on the Lord's side. Then the Lord promises to give us the word to say and He will allay our fear.
Jesus' word 'exalt' refers to lifting up of myself for attention and display: pushing to the front for promotion and reward: making out I am something when I am not: standing on my self-made platform.
The world says you need these to get on. Jesus says exalt yourself and know that God will bring you down.