Proud to Be Humble

Luke 18:14...he who humbles himself...

Humility can come from the outside or from the inside. If we choose to yield to the Spirit of God the throne in our hearts, the pride in our thoughts, if we abdicate the seat at the center of our universe to the One who created the universe, then He can lift us up when we are prepared, trained, matured and able to walk and live in His authority without dishonoring His name.

If we choose not to give up control and mastery of our own lives, God is well able and prepared to arrange circumstances that will remove all outward basis for any pride or self-satisfaction. He does so, always, with the loving intent of drawing us to Him, by removing the prickly, thorny defenses we erect out of fear of loss, out of fear of being diminished to nothing and having our identity vanish as a drop of water in the ocean, meaningless and insignificant.

Whether we let down our defenses and open the gate from the inside, or whether our walls are breached and our defenses go up in flames, once God has mercifully removed us from the position of control and power that was causing our lives to careen without true direction, we can see that by bowing our knees to God, giving up our claim over our lives, we are given much more value and worth in God's eyes than we could ever achieve through our own efforts.

True humility is an inward work that reaches outward. As we realize that in Christ, we can do and be so much more than we can on our own, we give acknowledgement to the Son of God as Lord of our lives and obediently follow the Spirit of God which is sent to lead us, to show us the steps to take, that we can turn from our own wants and cares to the needs and the rescue of others in distress.

We soon learn that if our heart is right, our world will be right. It is not what happens to us, rather it is how we take it that matters. No matter how straitened or restricted our circumstances may be, how little financial freedom we may have, we can always turn inward and let God show us what needs to be made right. As that inward work is accomplished, we will always find the outward has improved, as well. The power and authority that we wield in Jesus name within ourselves will be released through our obedience and will change our outward life, as well.

Walking in humility allows God's love to flow out through us. We are able to see others as God's children, and express His love freely to them through action by serving. Love means no severe judging, no resentments, no malicious gossip, and destructive criticism. It means patience, understanding, compassion, and helpfulness. It means, as Jesus did, living our lives for others as the Father shows us to do.

Loving God, the One who watches us always, ready to rescue, willingly giving all He has to meet every need we face, the great Lord and God who is servant to all, as a Father is to His children, whether playing on the floor with us, or bandaging a wound for us, always doing what we cannot do for ourselves because You are big enough, great enough, powerful enough, confident enough, wise enough to know that bending down to serve does not diminish Who You are, when it is done in love, You are our example, and we follow Your lead today with those You bring to us. Thank You, Father! Be glorified this day!

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