Humility

Word of the Day: Humility

Verse of the Day: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57:15‬

Have you ever been humbled? I mean truly humbled? Not just eat crow, but lowered beyond anything you could have previously comprehended? 

I have. And I needed it. 

Yesterday I talked briefly about growing up. I was extremely shy and embarrassed most of my childhood. Yes embarrassed. We didn’t have money and we spent most of our younger years in bars with our dad. My brother and I were the caretaker, putting our dad to bed after many drunken nights. That and some other things hardened my heart early on and exposed us to some unnecessary evils. Our grandparents tried, but it was too late, the seed was already planted. But this wasn’t where my humility came.  Humility came much later. 

Some people think of humility as the opposite of pride. The good versus the bad. Humble as polite and pride as arrogant and selfish. Being humble is usually used in a country song to chisel out the perfect cowboy. 

Just as with pride, we are usually the cause of our own humility. And I was no exception. 

Sometimes humility is the result. And for so many humility is the cause. A standard. People will keep themselves humble in order to refute pride. 

In my case, my humility came as a result of hurting people. Not physically, but emotionally because of what I had done. In that way, it can humble you beyond anything you can ever feel. 

And, I needed that. I needed that humility to find my way to God. Just as in Isaiah, if people repent and are humble God will take care of them. If you aren’t, well then it’s obvious. Very very obvious. 

I wasn’t an overly prideful person, but I wasn’t humble either. My humility was weak, until recently. And I truly believe that if you won’t admit your sin, repent (turn away) from it and humble yourself before God - you are headed in the wrong direction. 

So for all the people who I hurt from a lack of humility and doing what was right and just - I’m sorry. To my wife, I love you beyond anything you can imagine. Thank you for your love and support. To the men at church, thank you for being the men at my church. 

To the few that actually read these - stop for a moment and examine your humility. Is there someone you should reach out to today? Someone you should call or go see?

Stay in prayer. If you don’t pray often, start. It will change your life. Start reading your Bible more than you do. And then, stop making excuses not to be in church. You owe it to your family and friends to set the example. 

Lastly, thank God for your humility. Without it you would still be lost. Keep your humility in check. 

“A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:23‬

“When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭22:29‬

2 Chronicles 7:14 (my favorite verse)

James 4:6