HUMILITY BEFORE THE RIGHT PERSON
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:10 (NIV)
Everyone has a level of humility. Think about it. If you get around someone better than you, a hero, or someone you admire, you have humility around them. You’re focused on what they think and being respectful. A part of this could be people pleasing, but it’s also humility in their presence. The goal isn’t to be humble around certain people. The goal is to be a person marked with deep humility, which only comes from the Spirit. What matters is to have humility with the right person, which is God.
When I become humble and open before Him, He changes me and creates a new heart and love in me. It's impossible to be humble and love others consistently in your strength. Eventually, you’ll face a difficult person, trial or roadblock that’ll make loving others and humility in your strength impossible. What’s the solution? You need a better power source. When you’re humble before the Lord, He fills you and gives you supernatural strength.
I was in a meeting the other day, and a person was passive-aggressive and negative. I really tried to listen and absorb their frustration. It was almost like the Lord showed me that what they were sharing wasn’t the issue. They needed to be loved. Later that week, someone from the meeting said, You must be dialed into God. I expected you to fight in that meeting, but you were calm. It made me think of this verse.
When you humble yourself, God will lift you up with more power, peace, love and endurance. When you get around someone long enough, you think and act like them. When you get around God long enough, you get a supercharged humility. You start to do and say things that aren’t like you because the Spirit is living your life through you.
APPLICATION: Draw near to God and ask Him for deep humility.
PRAYER: Where can you humble yourself and acknowledge that you’ll only succeed through God's grace? When we humble ourselves before Him, He’s faithful to exalt us in His time and His way. Invite Him in.
“… 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?