HOW GOD HUMBLES
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.
Daniel 4:37 (ESV)
God is a creative God, which means He can go about humbling us in different ways. God works in our lives to create dependence and deep trust in Him. As we grow, so does our humility and trust. You don’t have to know the future if you know the One who holds the future. As the verse above says, God cares enough about us to make us more like Him. Here are ways God goes about humbling us to make us more like Him:
- Through Difficulties
The good times are great, but the difficult times usually shape us to be more like God. The fires of life often reform us, and in the difficulties, we’re usually desperate for God to show up.
- Through Discipline
God doesn’t punish us. Jesus was punished on the cross, but He will discipline us as a loving Father. Any parent who loves their children will discipline them to help them understand right and wrong and to help them flourish in life. Parents don’t enjoy disciplining, but they see what it produces in their child. God is the same way, and He’s a better parent than we’ll ever be.
- Through Jesus’ Example
Whenever we see Jesus and His humility, it changes us. In Philippians 2, we see the God of the universe as being marked by humility. Think about it: the most powerful being in the world is a servant. When we see Jesus serving and loving others, it creates a deeper humility in us.
- Through Prayer
Prayer is often where God works and humbles us. When we spend daily time in God’s presence, we’re reminded of our need for His wisdom. True prayer involves confessing our weaknesses, acknowledging our dependence on Him, and submitting to His will.
- Through His Glory
Everyone in the Bible who gets a glimpse of God’s glory has fallen to the ground in worship and adoration. No one saw God and said, That’s exactly what I thought He looked like! They were wrecked because He was bigger, more powerful, and more glorious than imaginable. When God reveals His glory, we can’t help but fall to our knees and worship Him!
APPLICATION: Walk with the Lord, and He will make you humble!
PRAYER: Review the list and ask the Spirit how God is growing your humility. See what He reveals to you. Thank Him for humbling you through each one in the past!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?