“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24- 26).
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).
Humility doesn’t come naturally to us. Developing it can take a lot of prayer and intention, but really requires the work of the Holy Spirit. God allowed Joseph to be humbled through years of painful experiences. He was thrown by his own brothers into a dry well, sold into slavery, and wrongfully accused of something he didn’t do that led to being imprisoned. Yet, during these hardships, while remembering God’s promises to him, Joseph developed humility and a forgiving spirit. The turning point in Joseph’s story was when his God-given ability to interpret dreams became the opportunity for him to interpret a troubling dream for Pharaoh. This resulted in Pharoah appointing Joseph as second in command (under him) over all of Egypt. The humility Joseph gained through his trials prepared him for his leadership role that monumentally changed the course of history—saving the lives of his brothers, eventually becoming the 12 tribes of Israel.
Oftentimes, we too, from a lower position of adversity, are forced to look up and see God, “Who is enthroned on high” (Psalm 113:5). When we’re on our knees in prayer, our focus is on the greatness of God. “His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). When we look to the Lord Jesus, we see the most remarkable example of humility to follow. As we walk behind Him and let Him lead us, people see HIM in all we do.
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: In what way has God allowed you to be humbled? Read and pray these scriptures, realizing the blessing of humility. “He gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
“Humility is fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
“Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]” (James 4:10).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You today completely humbled by Your goodness. Help us to have humility, recognizing and repenting of any feelings of superiority or conceit. We want more of You and less of us. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
Final Thought: Like the grace of God, waterfalls never flow upward; they fall in a downward motion. God’s grace is constantly flowing down on us from Heaven above.
Having Humility Through Hardships
Focus on the Fruits! PEACE
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: A Journey Towards Divine Purpose
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Focus on the Fruits! JOY
“God will let you laugh again; you’ll raise the roof with shouts of joy” (Job 8:20).
Taking Up the Mantle: Your Role in Expanding God’s Kingdom
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Spiritual Recharge: Ignite Your Connection with God Now!
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
Discover a Profound Love for the Word of God
“Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (Matthew 6:8).
Standing for Christ with Courage
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed” (Isaiah 61:1).
Ordinary, Yet Highly Valued
“And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:5).