Sunday Devotion and Prayer. March 26, 2023.
“The Gift of Humility”
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)
Humility is truly a gift from the Father. As humans, just like the fruit of the Spirit, it is difficult to walk continually in this godly trait. We need God’s help, His grace. To be granted His heavenly grace gifts, we must become humble before the throne of God. James tells us in chapter 4: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
When we think we can control our life better than God, we will eventually fail. Pride comes before a fall. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). We must acknowledge our prideful, self-reliant ways if we want to experience the sustaining and empowering grace of God. For me, in that providential moment, I began to experience this deep conviction that I was living a reckless and sinful life that offended God, who is altogether holy, and that I had been running away from the Father. It truly was my prodigal son moment— I came to my senses and the end of myself and no longer wanted to live in the filth of my sinful life. “Luke 15:7 tells us, “I say unto you, that likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance”.
Immediately, I knew I needed to repent of my sin and start running toward the Father. Right there, with hands lifted in worship, and tears streaming down my face, I repented of my pride and rebellion; I told God that I didn’t want to live this life on my own anymore and that I wanted to surrender to His plan, stop living for myself, and live for Him instead. As I loosened my grip on the plans for my life (one finger at a time, of course), I began to discover my purpose and identity in Christ and His great love for me.
I laid down my prideful desires, picked up my cross, and committed to truly following Jesus, no matter the cost, for the first time in my life. I am so incredibly grateful for that moment of humbling and destruction of my pride. Now, I am still a recipient of that grace- I am given the opportunity to come humbly and boldly to the throne of grace every single moment of every single day to receive His strength and mercy. What a gift!
Heavenly Father,
I repent for my self-reliance. I realize that I cannot walk through life without Your help. I ask for Your beautiful gift of humility to penetrate my heart. I lay down my pride and selfishness, and by Your grace, clothe myself in humility that comes from You. Jesus did not consider equality with You a thing to be grasped and emptied Himself of all privileges, He humbled Himself even to the point of dying on the cross for my sins. I want to reflect selflessness to the world, but for me to do that, I know that I need to walk in humility and put my trust in You alone. Thank You for the gift of Your grace to be humble and prefer others above myself. May You be glorified in all that I say and do. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen
