Humble Yourselves

Definition of humbler – VERB: lower (someone) in dignity or importance. “I knew he had humbled himself to ask for my help”. ADJECTIVE: having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance. “He was humble about his stature as one of rock history’s most influential guitarists”.

Theologian C.S. Lewis once observed, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”

I am writing this article just after Christmas at the end of 2018. It has been a busy time as it always is at this time of year with so many activities to attend and helping friends and families, etc. Through it all though, there is the reminder of how our dear Lord and Saviour humbled Himself to come down from Heaven as a babe to save us from ourselves. When I think of that wonderful gift to us, I cannot even imagine why we can be so full of our own importance and constantly wanting to be in control all the time. Where in the Bible does it say that we are to puff ourselves up and do things our own way? We are to be humble and patient and seek His face and ask for His direction and help. When we live outside His will and live by our own rules and what we think is right we lose that joy of the Lord that is our strength. When He is with us and we are abiding with Him we are content and we have joy. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” (Prov. 3:5-7) King George VI knew this when he called for a National Day of prayer on May 26, 1940 during the battle at Dunkirk which seemed hopeless but it ended up being the Miracle of Dunkirk. The Lord in His mercy heard their humble prayers and helped them. It is when we are weak that God is strong. Why can we not see this? This is the human condition! It wants to be in control all the time but it will fail us in so many ways. When we do this, we just slow down God’s plan. Jesus never did anything separate from the Father and that is the way we should be living our lives with Jesus. He should always be there with us directing our lives. This is something that I have noticed during these past weeks through the various activities I have attended. When I am talking to and visiting with people who love the Lord it comes through in what they say and how they treat each other. It draws you in and lifts you up. It is a wonderful time of fellowship.

We live in a world now where most of us have not gone through the really tough times that they went through during the world wars and the great depression. We have been relatively comfortable and if we are Christians, God has greatly helped us. My parents lost two children before they had my brother and me and although it was not discussed often in our home, my mother did say it was only through her faith in God that she was able to get through it. Many of us have had major problems happen to us in our lives and if we look back, we realize that God was there with us helping us through. This is something we should remember in the days ahead. He is always there to help us if we would only stop trying to control our lives so much that we don’t ask for His help and then trust Him to help us. We are living in a fallen world and we have to understand that things are going to happen to us that we don’t always understand or like, but Psalm 23 says we also have the Lord who is our Shepherd and He will lead us beside the still waters.

We so often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” I often wonder though if we really believe it. Do we really humble ourselves before a Mighty God? Do we really submit ourselves to His will and trust that it is for the best or do we continue to do things our own way and every once in awhile say a prayer hoping this is enough? I believe it is not. We are in serious times right now and our main focus should be in making ourselves ready for the Kingdom. This earthly life is temporary, and it is wasting away. If we could only take our eyes off all the awful things that are happening on this earthly life and keep our eyes on our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, we would not be afraid because He is leading us through to His Kingdom on earth brought down from Heaven. The Lord’s Prayer says, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” We must make ourselves ready for this great event!

“…Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:5-7)