Humility

Humility causes us to recognize the true condition of our heart

Over the past month I was overwhelmed with ministry, planning a wedding, work, packing and moving. There were many nights I became tired, frustrated and emotional, basically I was throwing a fit because nothing was going my way, in my time. It felt like Ihad nothing left in me to give. Rightfully so, I didn’t, I was at the end of my rope. I cried out and asked the Lord what are you teaching me, because I feel like I’m not getting it. How am I supposed to become this woman of god you desire me to be, as a wife in my future home, within our friendships, in our community, at work, at church and in our family?

When looking back I noticed I was missing the main ingredient of why I am where I am today. I took God out of the equation. I missed dates with my Heavenly Father in worship, prayer, devotion and reading His word all because I became like Martha too busy focused on everything around me, rather than focusing on the One who was entrusting me with all His best. Let me say, God has a way of catching our attention.  I went from being frustrated and every little thing bothered me to peace and joy even through some of life’s difficulties. I’m so grateful that He gives us His word and puts people in our lives that will help us recognize those areas that need to be evaluated, checked and corrected.

There are many accounts through out the bible where God has shown us where He has honored those who have humbled themselves and humbled those that were not willing to do so on their own and through that they faced consequences or destruction.

Humility, many of us may have heard this repeatedly for the past few weeks. We are going to go into what humility means, how to obtain it and how to know if we are walking in it.

The bible describes humility as meekness, lowliness, and absent of self. In other words, we are called to be women who that die daily to self. That means putting God 1st, in your day, your relationships, your job, school and home. How do we do that? We seek the face of Jesus (alone time, reading, praying and in worship). It means acknowledging our need for a Savior.  Without Jesus we miss out on growth, opportunities and His purpose for our lives.

Jesus is our prime example who lived humility out.

In Philippians 2:5-8 it talks about how we are to adopt or carry the same attitude of Christ.

[Phl 2:5-11 CSB] 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death -- even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow -- in heaven and on earth and under the earth -- 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When we are emptied of ourselves the holy spirit can produce everlasting fruit that doesn’t spoil. (Galatians 5:22)

As we are filled with God’s word we will start to see the true nature of our hearts and God will start to show us what our priorities are and convict our hearts. The holy spirit will start to shift things around in our lives and we will either come to a place of brokenness and repentance of those things that have taken up our time or space in place of Him, or we will reject God and wait for God to humble us.

Has there been a time in your life where the Lord humbled you?

Is there anyone else in mind in the bible who the Lord has humbled?

For the past 20 plus years I can say yes, I have had many humble moments. Let’s look at

2 Chronicles 12 when Rehoboam thought he could do things on his own and decided he didn’t need the law of the Lord because he thought he was strong and probably thought nothing or no one can touch him. Wrong the Lord made it clear because he abandoned the Lord, that He was going to give him or abandon him over to Shishak. Hearing this the leaders of Israel and the king himself decided to humble themselves and so the Lord decided not to completely destroy them.

On the other hand, we have King Asa, David’s son who did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He did all things the Lord would require from any of us. Then in chapters 14-16 we see where Asa felt like he no longer needed God to handle his affairs, he became angry and because he sought out physicians rather than the great physician he ended up dying.

Just like Rehoboam some of us must go through the difficulties of our life choices until the Lord humbles us and we are brought to our knees in a place of repentance. Sometimes our choices come with consequences. Pride can lead to destruction or even death. Either way without Jesus, people will perish.

Let’s ask ourselves this morning. Is there anything that I need to confess or repent of?

Moving forward what steps am I going to take to draw closer to my Heavenly Father who loves me?

I encourage you to fall in Love with Jesus all over again this morning and take a moment to give Him all praise honor and glory, because of who He is and because He is always good!