Choosing Humility
Can you detect when there is pride in your life? Do you know when you are in a state of humility? Can you be intentionally humble?
It can be difficult to discern on our own if we are being prideful. We need the help and the wisdom of God and his word, and fellow followers of Jesus, to help lead our way.
Humility is life giving. Pride is dangerous.
The wisdom of the Proverbs tells us, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, NIV).
While we may not be aware if we are being humble, because of the very nature of humility, we must must be aware of pride in our lives that will bring about destruction and fall.
In his book The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, Timothy Keller writes, “The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”
The essence of pride is self-absorption and preoccupation with self. Pride is being puffed up and exalts the self above others, and to a higher degree than is justified.
Humility is not self-aggrandizement and not self-loathing, but self-forgetfulness.
When we choose humility, we protect ourselves from the dangers of pride in our life, which will lead to our downfall.
May we be mindful of our destructive prideful nature and choose life giving humility.
A Prayer in Times of Social Conflict or Unrest: “Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (#44., Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Begin the month with a #dailydevotional. I have created a #devotional book for each month, a devotional for every day of the year, and offering them for #free by subscribing. Get a link to #Grow365: #August2022—A #Daily Devotional here: robbiepruitt.com.
