“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." Psalm 25:9
Forty-one years ago today, my youngest daughter was born at Western Nebraska General Hospital with the fire alarm beeping and battery powered emergency lights illuminating the birthing area. It is humbling to consider just how old that makes me feel. These past few weeks have caused me to consider how much of our world needs to take a class on Being Humble 101. Can I get an AMEN?
Humility is not thinking less of yourself. You can be confident and humble at the same time. Humility is thinking of yourself less. When you stay focused on our Heavenly Father, what He has accomplished through you, and helping other people, you naturally think about yourself less. That’s not an easy way to live in our fallen world. Why would anybody choose to think of others more than they think of themselves? Because God makes many promises in the Bible for Christians who will humble themselves. Humility is a big deal to our Triune God. I read a devotion about ‘being humble’ last week and here are four things God will do in your life when you work on being humble. I know there are a few Haitian Lutheran pastors who read my messages so I’m hopeful you can glean a few snippets of wisdom this Monday that can be passed on to your congregation.
If you’re humble, God will guide you. If you don’t know which way to turn, whether to get in or get out of the boat, hold on or let go, then get humble. When you humble yourself, God will make your next step clear and you’ll make fewer mistakes in life.
If you’re humble, God will bless you. Isaiah the Prophet writes in 66:2 “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts”. God doesn’t bless egotistic or prideful people or those who secretly think they’re better than everybody else. Been around anyone like that recently? Our Triune God blesses the humble.
If you’re humble, God will give you the power to change. The power to change is called grace. Maybe there are things in your life you’d like to change. Perhaps you’ve tried to change, but you can’t or you won’t. You need grace! How do you get God’s grace and the power to change? Every time you’re prideful, you’re on the opposite side of God; and you don’t want to be there. The humbler you are, the more grace our Triune God gives you.
If you’re humble, God will reduce your stress. I can imagine that all of us will need some stress reduction this week. If you’re prideful, your stress is going to go up. Instead, listen to Jesus: “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:29. When you’re tapped out and feel like you have nothing left to give, surrender to Jesus. Spend time in the Bible, learning how to choose gentleness and humility by his example. Pray, and ask him for the grace to change. Then you’ll find the rest your soul has been craving.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay