We are placed on this earth to bring glory to God, and our highest calling is to honor Him in all areas of life. But here’s the thing: we cannot glorify God if we are also trying to glorify ourselves. Humility is an essential factor in our ability to fulfill His purposes in our lives and to stay in sync with the things that matter to Him.
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
Over the course of our lives, the Holy Spirit molds us to be more like Christ in our words, deeds, and intentions of the heart (our desires and our will). This process requires us to know God’s character, grow in our relationship with Him, and follow His commands. It takes humility of heart to allow God to mold us, because the experiences He uses to do this are often not the kind of things we would choose for ourselves. The achievements that we aspire to may be worthless in God’s eternal perspective, and the struggles and trials we want to avoid may be exactly the things we need to be conformed to His image. Humility enables us to lay down our own desires and accept this process of sanctification, becoming set apart and holy unto the Lord.
As we grow in spiritual maturity, God tests our hearts to know if we are truly committed to His ways and truths. We must diligently maintain our relationship with the Lord and guard our hearts.
“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life…” Deuteronomy 4:9
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Since we are born of the flesh, our sinful natures can get the best of us. Sometimes our spirits are willing but the flesh is weak. God’s Word tells us what it requires to walk humbly with God:
- The working of the Holy Spirit
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 - Obedience to God’s Word
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes…”Deuteronomy 8:11 - Prayer and fasting
“I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer kept returning to my bosom.” Psalm 35:13 - Waiting humbly and patiently on the Lord
“For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land… the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:9, 11 - Submit to and draw near to God
“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:6-8
The result of these heart attitudes is that we will be closer to God and in line with His will and His ways. We will find ourselves increasing in understanding, wisdom, discernment, and integrity, simply because we are in sync with Him. We will have God-given courage, knowing it is God who fights for us. We will develop greater faith in God rather than the fear of man. We will learn how to demonstrate servant leadership, like Jesus did. Once we have accepted God’s plan for our lives over our own, we will find that His plan is perfect after all.
God honors those with humility of heart, who seek to glorify Him above all else. Those who chose to walk daily in submission to God are promised great rewards.
“He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.” Luke 1:51-52
“Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:10
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time…” 1 Peter 5:6
“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.” Proverbs 22:4
We can achieve nothing in life for ourselves that will compare to the rewards that come from our heavenly Father. So take a moment today to think about how you can pursue humility and leave the rest to Him!
All Scripture passages taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 version.
