Search This Blog

Monday, June 20, 2022

Less of Yourself to Be More of Him


 


We all desire to have good success. But good success comes to those who exhibit true humility in their lives. Humility is not a subject that draws a lot of people. This is because hearing about humility challenges us. It steps on our toes. But until we surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal where we need to change and respond to it, we will forever limit God in our lives.

 

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:5b-7 NKJV

 

A person who chooses to humble himself under the mighty hand of God realizes that he can do nothing in his own strength. He knows any good success in his life comes from God. True humility is being totally—not just partially—dependent on God.

 

When a person places more trust in his own way instead of surrendering to God’s way, he has a prideful spirit. A person with pride promotes himself. He tries to make himself look good. He believes that he is the author of any success in his life. God’s power doesn’t flow through someone who does things his own way. Exalting yourself never invites God’s grace. God exalts you when you depend upon His guidance and trust His timing. You don’t have to promote or prove yourself. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 

 

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

 —James 4:5 NKJV

 

Do you need more grace in your life? God gives more grace to the humble. Are you entirely dependent on Him? Do you trust Him and allow the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you? The humility that you have before God determines the amount of grace you receive. 

 

Pride is also demeaning or making yourself look less to others. Those that feel the need to demean themselves find their value in the opinions of others instead of God. They, just like those who place trust in themselves, need the recognition and affirmation of others. True humility means you totally trust God and are utterly reliant upon Him. Demeaning yourself and feeling unworthy reveals you don’t trust God—that you don’t believe in the value of what Christ has done for you

 

Look at Peter in John 13 telling Jesus he wasn't worthy enough for Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus told Peter if he didn't allow Him to wash his feet, Peter could have no part of Him. Not allowing Jesus to wash his feet was not humility in Peter.

 

Consider the fact that Jesus told Peter he could have no part of Him if he didn't allow Him to wash his feet. Jesus wished to give a gift to Peter by washing his feet, but Peter's resistance came from pride. Until Jesus explained the result of his refusal (that Peter could have no part of Him), Peter rejected the gift of grace that Jesus offered him. 

 

God gives grace to those who are humble and resists those who are proud. Pride is not just arrogance. In its simplest form, it is nothing but self-centeredness. 

 

Looking at where we focus our minds will reveal if we have pride or true humility. When our thoughts are on ourselves—whether we promote ourselves or think less of ourselves, life is about us. It doesn't matter if we focus on what makes us great or what makes us weak. God only desires our thoughts to be on Him. When your mind focuses on God—instead of what you want, your ideas, your failures, your feelings, or your circumstances, you approach God with a humble spirit. 

You trust God and have His peace (Isaiah 26:3).

 

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you 

—James 4:7-8 NKJV 

 

The only way we can draw near to God is with true humility. We don’t have to prove ourselves to God. Resist the temptation to dwell on yourself. Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)). When you cast your cares upon the Lord, that tells God you need Him, and that is true humility. 

 

God didn’t give us the ability to handle things without Him. When you hold your life back from God—when you say no to Him washing your feet—you limit His grace in your life. When you give God your worries and tell Him that you trust Him, He blesses you with a peaceful heart (Philippians 4:6-7). 

 

Good success is God’s success in your life. Choose to be less so He can be more.

 

© 2022 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com/2022/06/less-of-yourself-to-be-more-of-him.html

 

 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Trust in the Lord

    Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give yo...