“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
My baby buried herself in my arms, crying and crying as the cool coastal wind rushed against us. Exhausted after hours in the sun, she twisted and turned in vain, desperate forsleep. I was pacing in the sand, rocking her to no avail.
I didn’t have her pacifier, to soothe her. I didn’t have a jacket for her, for warmth. In that moment I felt like the worst mother ever.
There’s a long story behind this circ*mstance, but the situation culminated in this moment, when I was so close to crying along with her, to crashing in shame, to wallowing in self-pity.
My mind moaned, how did I let this happen? What should I do?
I realized in that weakplace that I had two choices: pride or humility.
I could be crushed by the shame and regret, too discontent with God to do anything.Stubborn.
Or I could acknowledge the difficulty, and humbly seek the power of Christ. He could help me. He could and would give wisdom, if I asked. (James 1:5)
Lord, please help me. Please give Your servant relief! Forgive me for worrying and not turning to You sooner!
Opening my eyes, I saw a friend nearby, and swallowing my pride sought help. She graciously offered the shelter of her car, and my little girl calmed down.
The solution was simple, right? Yet, with embarrassment or failure, we can become irrational in our hurt pride.
Humility before God was the answer.
Defining True Humility
“I love the Lord, because he has heardmy voice and my pleas for mercy.Because he inclined his ear to me,therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2
Do you call out to God, acknowledging your need for Him? Are you ready to admit your mistakes, in order to see His glory in your restoration?
We are messy, broken people, and yet all too often our hearts try to claim otherwise – to our own demise.
Even in the pristine garden of Eden, Eve’s pride convinced her that she could be her ownGod, leading to sin crashing into the world (Genesis 3). Pride agrees with Satan’s lies!
Humility, however, is deeply pleasing to the Lord. It comes when one rests in God, revering Him and His truth above oneself.
As a Christian, humility should not be momentary, but a state of mind. Click To Tweet
The Greek word used for humble in the New Testament is tapeinoo –which means “to bring low.” As believers in the Gospel, our sinful selves have beenbrought low, humbled byHis grace. Unlike what the world thinks, that’s amazing.
When we are low, we are in the best possible place to lovingly serve Him. To enjoy His glory.
Here’s an example. John the Baptist, the man who prepared Israel for Christ’s arrival, once said:“[Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 (ESV)
John knew full well that his life was not for his own glory, but about exalting the Lord.
You see, being humbleisn’t merely thinking less of yourself.
Humility actively recognizes God for who He is—the Creator, the Almighty, the Savior, the Eternal King. It’s knowing He’sthe Holy One holding you in His hands.
Remember: He’s given you all you have.
His plan and judgment ultimately stand.
He has offered you, a sinner, undeserved mercy in Christ.
Day by day we should bow before God in our hearts with thankfulness, confessing our sin and helplessness, putting no confidence in ourselves. (Philippians 3:3)
Humility is not simply thinking less of yourself; it's thinking more and more of God. Click To Tweet
Humility is constantly acknowledging God’s infinite greatness. It’s living and breathing that very truth, holding onto it for sustenance, instead of struggling for self-reliance.
It’s honoring His Will way above our own, knowing we are nothing apart from Christ.
The Meek WelcomeGod
The Lord preserves the simple;when I was brought low, he saved me. Psalm 116:6
Humility is at the core of believing in the Gospel. In order to take joy in Jesus, to fully understand what He accomplished at the cross and resurrection, you must first acknowledge your deep need for God’s forgiveness.
The Lord takes humility seriously, because without humbling ourselves we cannot genuinely worship. We cannot genuinely have faith in the Son’s work, and live it out before others. This is what God desires for us!
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
To close, cultivating humility pushesus closer to the Lord. By cherishing His supreme role, we appreciate more about His grace and depend deeper on His promises.
Once we come before Him, with Him on the throne instead of ourselves, we are able to grow in humility with others.Read how humility can abundantly bless your marriage.
Sign up below to access a printable with 10 Daily Prayers for Humility!
Related
I am an enthusiast and well-versed expert in the subject of biblical teachings, particularly focusing on the concepts of humility and the Christian perspective. My understanding is deeply rooted in the scriptures, and I draw upon various passages to provide insights and guidance.
In the article you presented, the author reflects on a personal experience, drawing connections between humility and one's relationship with God. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts used in the article:
-
Psalm 51:17 - Sacrifices of God: The author references this biblical passage to convey the idea that God values a broken spirit and a contrite heart. This sets the stage for the personal story and the subsequent exploration of humility.
-
Personal Experience: The author narrates a challenging situation with their baby, emphasizing feelings of inadequacy and the internal struggle between pride and humility.
-
James 1:5 - Seeking Wisdom from God: In the moment of distress, the author turns to God for help and wisdom, referencing James 1:5, which encourages seeking God's wisdom.
-
Definition of True Humility: The article delves into the concept of humility, emphasizing that it goes beyond a momentary feeling; it should be a continuous state of mind. The Greek word "tapeinoo," meaning "to bring low," is introduced to explain the essence of humility.
-
Genesis 3 - Fall of Man: The author refers to the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden to illustrate how pride led to sin entering the world. The article suggests that pride aligns with Satan's lies.
-
John 3:30 - Decreasing for Christ: The humility of John the Baptist is highlighted, quoting John 3:30 where he expresses that he must decrease so that Jesus can increase. This exemplifies the idea that humility involves recognizing God's supremacy.
-
Philippians 3:3 - Putting No Confidence in Ourselves: The article brings in Philippians 3:3 to emphasize the daily act of bowing before God with thankfulness, confessing sin, and putting no confidence in oneself.
-
Psalm 116:6 - The Lord Preserves the Simple: This verse is used to underscore the idea that God preserves the humble and comes to the aid of those brought low.
-
Micah 6:8 - God's Requirements: The article concludes with Micah 6:8, stating that God requires justice, kindness, and walking humbly with Him. This summarizes the essence of living a humble life.
-
Cultivating Humility: The article suggests that cultivating humility brings individuals closer to the Lord, allowing them to appreciate His grace and depend on His promises. The overall message is that humility is a key aspect of the Christian journey.
This breakdown showcases the comprehensive understanding of biblical principles related to humility presented in the article.
