Humility
does not come from a less than perfect beginning in life. Some of the most
proud people in the world are those who feel uncertain and fearful. Pride is
more common in those who did at one time, and maybe even still, live in abject
circumstances and constant failings.
Arrogance
is often a front that we adopt to hide our insecurities. Yet, pride causes God
and others to shun us (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). We try in vain
to impress, but simply end up attracting rejection. A braggart, completely
absorbed in their own looks, skillset, accomplishments and bank account, is not
attractive in the least.
Shame
is not humility. Some of us may feel a false sense of shame caused by years of
listening to Satan's lies that he either whispers in our mind, or speaks to us
through significant others in our life. Other people earn their shame from
remorse over their negative behavior.
God
does not heap shame on us when we sin, Satan does. He wants to debilitate us
with a heavy weight of guilt. On the other hand, God will humble us with
conviction over the error of our ways. With
His conviction comes a recommendation of alternative behavior that leads to
holiness, not hopelessness.
Clothing
our self with humility is quite an attractive garment (Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter
5:5). Humility and compassion are the most alluring attitudes one can exhibit.
People flock to people who care about them. We trust a humble person, but we
draw away from someone dripping with pride.
Holiness
is God's intention for His Bride of Christ (His Church, His Body). When we
resist His efforts to perfect us in holiness, we thwart His purpose for our
life. God's army is full of humble people who rely more on Him than they do on
their human resources, and in this we find victory.
Prayer:
Father
God, lead us to reject the need to hide behind our pride in order to maintain a
certain standard that we falsely think is attractive. We want to humble our
self in Your sight, and to surrender to Your perfect plan and purpose for our
life (Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139). We will decrease in our own sight, in order
for You to increase in our life. We want others to look at us, and to see You
reflected in our image.
Help
us to adopt humility, because pride always goes before destruction (Proverbs
16:18). Create in us a pure heart, and renew Your Holy Spirit within us on a
daily basis (Psalm 51:10). Help us to walk in humility, so that Your love takes
pre-eminence in our attitude. We want to live as a city set on hill, so that
others will see Christ in us, and will want what we have with You in their own
life.
Thought
for the Day:
We
all hide behind pride now and then, it is so handy and easy to disappear
behind; however, it is a false safety net and only causes more trouble than it
is worth in our health, in our success in life, and in our relationships.
- Proverbs
16:18
