Power in Humility

“For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory” (Psalm 149:4, NLT).

Do you realize that God “delights” in you? If you are someone who feels abandoned at times by God, then you need to consider the fact that He delights in you. He takes joy in you. He is constant–the same way yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). There is no change in His love for you. There is no change in Him (James 1:17). If you feel abandoned, something might have happened in your life that has made you lose confidence in Him or perhaps there is something in your life that is sinful, and pulls you from His presence. God never abandons His children. He delights in you because you are His creation, and He died for you. That is the greatest love. That kind of love does not abandon. But we sometimes abandon that love by our thoughts, our actions, and our deeds.

You cannot feel the delight of the Lord if you have something in your life that is blocking it. If there is something you know is wrong, ask forgiveness for it, and let it go. If you do not know of anything, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you, and only listen to His convicting voice, and not the one of the enemy who will condemn you. There is always hope in Christ's conviction, and no hope in the lying condemnation of the enemy. Allow Christ's conviction to change your heart, and humble yourself in His presence. He will lift you in His time (1 Peter 5:6).

You cannot feel the delight of the Lord if some event or problem in your life is so powerful that it keeps you from knowing God's love and peace. You don't feel loved if you feel God has abandoned you. That very feeling of abandonment can bring anger and bitterness toward God, and then anger toward yourself for being angry at Him. Forgive God for your anger for something that happened, and forgive yourself for your anger at you. Life happens. Events happen. Problems come. Trials are inevitable. God has not abandoned you. He takes delight in you especially when these struggles have the ability to bring greater spiritual growth in you.

When you humble yourself before the Lord and give up anything in your life that blocks His presence, you invite His power into your life. When you allow the trials of life to spiritually grow you into His beautiful creation, you invite His victory. Instead of defeating you, those trials inspire you to trust Him more. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6, NIV). He crowns the humble with victory. There is power in humility.