I‘ve been doing a lot of writing in the last week (8 days strong, thank you, Lord) and God’s been challenging me to write about some of the things that I struggle with the most.
Today’s subject of prayer is humility.
I love humility, and how it feels when a fresh dose of it washes over me, but I’d be lying if I said that it feels good when my humbling has to be done for me.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
1 Peter 5:6
“He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.”
Proverbs 3:34
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:6
Grace and favor are gifts from God when I’m humble. I like His grace and favor. I’ll bet you do, too. We can go all day long receiving those gifts. But when God uses others to give us a fresh dose of humility, our first reaction can be less than glorifying. If you’re like me, I fight to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. Sometimes, I lose the battle, and the only way to right my wrong is…well, to be humble.
Humility is the opposite of pride, and it’s something that is gained and practiced as we grow in God’s wisdom and grace. The more time we spend in His Word and prayer, the easier it is to prefer God and others above ourselves, regardless of their behavior. When we grow in our relationship, and get an accurate understanding of who God is, and who we are in light of Him, humility is going to develop.
Humility requires us to recognize and rely on His abilities, not our own.
It’s acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s work as God leads us through life.
It’s remembering that apart from Him, I am nothing.
If I keep the perspective that I am His vessel, a mound of clay in the hands of the Potter, He can mold me to be humble, and do great things according to His plans and His purpose.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11
Lord,
I ask you to forgive me for the times when my attitude is not a reflection of who You are. Help me to serve others and put them before myself today. Keep me from my own selfish agenda and from pursuing my will over Yours. Your ways are always better than my own. Remind me that while I was in my sin, You died for me. When I am tempted to think more highly of myself than I ought to, I pray You’ll remind me that apart from you I am nothing. Thank You that because of Jesus, I can hold on to Your promise of grace when I am humble before You and others.
In Jesus Name