“Humility would fix a lot of things…”
My pastor husband had been praying and pondering over the needs of our church for some time; considering it’s strengths and weaknesses, needs and wants.
“Think about how much humility would fix! Think about how humility injected into this situation and that would heal, help and grow so much in our church body!”
Humility and the simplicity of the Gospel were to become the heartbeat of his prayer and focus for our church. It wasn’t that our church had a huge issue with pride, but in all honesty, what church in America couldn’t use growth in this area? What individual shouldn’t pursue growth in this facet of his or her walk with God?
Consider God’s promises to the humble:
Salvation –
You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 18:27 NIV
For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with salvation.
Psalm 149:4 NIV
Guidance –
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
Psalm 25:9 NIV
Provision and Care –
The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
Psalm 147:6 NIV
Grace –
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble .”
James 4:6 NIV
The Hope of Being Lifted Up –
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 NIV
As individuals and churches, the fruit of humility is essential to our witness and growth. Yet, it’s a slippery concept for us to wrap our minds around.
When my husband sent out the weekly church e-newsletter to share his heart on the matter for humility in our body, he got some interesting feedback. Some people thought he was calling them out individually for not having humble hearts. The letter didn’t make any accusations, just shared how he felt we could grow and benefit from asking the Lord to make us be a church defined by humility. Thankfully, our church people ARE humble enough to share the experience, laugh about how it might have struck an all-too-real chord and pray together about our growth in humility.
I remember reading a story about one of the old classic Christian authors who began a work describing true Christian humility. After rereading what he’d written,he was so very proud of his explanation of humility, only to realize that from one breath to the next he had let the very essence of humility slip his grasp. I couldn’t remember the author’s name, so I googled the anecdote to see if I could scrounge up the name and details. I was shocked how many websites and blog posts came up that were not Christian, but rather atheistic and against Christians (literally in their site name) that blamed their negative feelings toward God and the church specifically on the “false humility” of Christians. It took my breath away.
Could it be that the church in America doesn’t need a new twist on the children’s and youth program, a cooler worship band or better technology resources, but that she needs a fresh spirit of humility? Could a group of people so very bent on seeking personal humility come together to form a church body defined by humility and thus fulfill her task to be a witness in the community better than if she had every imaginable bell and whistle or church program?
Humility is a slightly scary thing to pray for because God answers it so swiftly and assuredly… in ways that undoubtedly humble us! I remember one season in my early twenties praying for humility before I got to lead worship at a special retreat. Boy howdy did I get humbled that day – and publicly too! There was still sweet worship among sisters, but while I stood up front I was most definitely kneeling in my heart! As I reconsidered my prayer, I decided that praying for things like humility or patience are things God desires for our hearts. We can either stubbornly try to protect our hearts from the good God wants to develop in us or we can lift them to His care to gracefully teach us and mold us into humble, patient people. I still pray for humility, but always ask for an extra dose of gentleness and softness in the lesson!
Don’t be afraid of asking God to grow humility in you, your ministry and your church! Jonathan Edwards said, “Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.” Who knows what plans God could work through a church consecrated to Him in humility!
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