Scriptures: Psalms 139:7-10, 2 Peter 3:5-8

Grasp Humility 

The concept of being “self-made” is pretty popular in our culture. But what if I told you no one is self-made? Humility is the reality check many of us need: the reminder that nothing happens—and no one succeeds or fails—without God’s hand over it all. 

When we become aware of God’s control over the universe, we also become aware of how finite we are and how dependent we are on God. Awareness is a beautiful thing because it brings about proper orientation. We stand in wonder at the infinite and great God who, in a breath, brought about all of creation. The kindness of a God who chose to breathe life into humans. The never-ending love of a God who sent his own Son to pay a price we owed, dying a death we deserved, all so we could receive his righteousness and join his family. 

This awareness should lead to acceptance: the acknowledgment that we can rest in the arms of a God who has everything under control. If you are overcome with worries, fears, or insecurities, consider how releasing those to God will change your everyday life. This kind of shift in perspective is what grasping humility is all about. 

Reflect: How have I defined humility in the past? What is my place in the world in comparison to God and to others? 

Pray: Dear God, thank you for reminding me that you love me, that you are great, and that you are in control. Help me to understand my place in the universe and to cast my cares on you, my eternal deliverer. Amen.

Scriptures: Philippians 2:5-8, Luke 18:14

Cultivate Humility

Humility is the soil that all the virtues of the Christian life grow from. With a measured understanding of who God is and how he cares for us and our neighbors, we can build better relationships, worship God more fully, and live with the kind of peace and stability that God provides to all who hope in him.

Here are a few ideas for cultivating humility in your life. To cultivate humility is to practice it until it becomes part of who we are.

1. Rejoice in the greatness of God.

Write down two or three things that remind you of how big God is. For me, it’s the stars, the ocean, and the landscape of a shrinking world as I’m taking off in a plane and flying into the clouds.

2. Glorify God.

Take those two or three things and write out a simple prayer of praise. Allow thankfulness in your heart to turn into praise on your lips.

3. Anticipate God’s continual faithfulness.

Write about a specific way God’s been faithful to you and how you know he’ll be just as faithful in the future.

4. Exalt God.

Today we can exalt God because who he is never changes and his power and goodness will never end. We exalt God because he is the only one worthy of exaltation. Write a line or two to express this.

Reflect: What might a daily practice of humility look like for me? What efforts can I make to regularly exalt and praise the God who made me?

Pray: Dear God, help me cultivate the soil of humility in my life, so I may more clearly see you and the world around me. Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 11:29-30

Embody Humility

As Christians, Jesus is our example for living; so it’s important that Jesus also described himself as humble. In the Greco-Roman world, this word had an almost a universally negative connotation. It dealt with lowliness or subservience. No one had any sort of positive way to think of these things.

But here, Jesus connected it to a lowliness of heart. Gentle humility in the life of Jesus was a willingness to be low and to consider others. This was deeply rooted in his heart and at the core of who he was. I would go so far as to say that humility shaped and influenced his gentleness. It was also the backdrop of his greatness.

This is what Jesus calls us to. He invites us to come share his yoke—there’s room for us there—to walk right beside him, learning his ways of gentleness and humility. The blessing in this is that we will not be crushed. We will experience a “perfect fit” because Jesus promises to carry anything and everything that is beyond what we can bear.

It’s important to point out that this is an exchange of yokes, not a removal of yokes.

We still carry burdens; we still have to walk through our fears and navigate the hurts of life. But the yoke of Jesus removes the crushing weight of fear and pain for something that is a good fit for our shoulders, so we can walk through the hurts of life and make it to the other side.

Reflect: How does Jesus’ example of humility teach me how to live? What does it mean for me to share his yoke?

Pray: Dear God, thank you for your Son, whose humble heart led him to the cross. May a day never pass when I do not remember this great sacrifice. Amen.

Scriptures: Philippians 2:3-4, James 3:13

Redefine Humility 

In the apostle Paul’s day, humility was not a virtue worthy of respect. In fact, society around him honored the opposite. The culture was highly competitive and focused on self-exaltation. So anyone who had a low social status, who was weak or lowly, was considered “humble,” and it almost always had a negative connotation. 

Our modern situation, in some ways, is not terribly different than Paul’s. It’s kind of wild—even with technological advancements and cultural developments, some things seem to stay the same. The powerful, strong, and rich are the ones who win. The poor, weak, and lowly are the ones who lose. So people assume, If you don’t want to lose, don’t be associated with losers. If you want to win, do whatever it takes to gain more human control, strength, and power.

Paul redefined humility as something to be desired, not despised, and so can we. 

When we see humility from a God-first perspective, it will place us in the safe, secure, and strong hands of the Creator of the universe. However, if we view humility through a human-first perspective, it will lead us to rely on our own feeble and fragile strength. 

Jesus set the ultimate example of humility, yet his life, death, and resurrection led to the ultimate victory. Which connotation of humility will you decide to believe in today? 

Reflect: How does the world around me seem to denigrate the humble? What messages do I hear each day that try to compete with Jesus’ example of humility, service, and lowliness? 

Pray: Dear God, show me the path to humility. When the world tries to tell me that pride is the way to power, remind me of how you glorified your humble, lowly, and sacrificial Son. Amen.

Scripture: Colossians 3:12

Safeguard Yourself with Humility 

Did you know that humility can actually protect you from humiliation? It steers us away from counting on things that will only let us down. It keeps us from giving power to things that we shouldn’t. 

Can humility prevent all humiliation? I wish that were the case, but no. We can’t control other people or what happens to us, and we can’t escape our own human fallibility. 

We can, however, control where we find our security, the tools we bring into every situation, and the way we respond to hard moments. We can allow humility to protect our hearts in the midst of the inevitable humiliations of life. We can let God equip us to face them and get through them. And as we do, we’ll become stronger and better for it. 

Being reminded that God is in control should put us at ease when we fail, feel embarrassed, or are afraid. When we accept that mistakes and failures will not destroy us, this will safeguard us against future humiliation. Our self-worth won’t be tied to an image of perfection. And this is so freeing because perfection is unattainable on this side of eternity! With mindsets of humility, we can keep on accepting moments of weakness as opportunities to depend on God and to grow. 

Reflect: What fears are holding me back at this moment? How might knowing that God is in control of all things give me the freedom and peace to take risks and grow? 

Pray: Dear God, thank you for holding the world together. Next time I encounter something scary or embarrassing, remind me that the universe does not hinge on my being perfect. Give me the courage to walk boldly, knowing that you are in control of all things. Amen.