I have discovered the greatest secret of success in the entire world: “humility”
Humility. Really?
I’m not talking about a milk toast, doormat, passive, directionless failure. Here is what I am talking about:
—Someone who turns everything over to God…then give Him all the credit when He turns it around.
He likes that.
—Someone who is delivered from improving their “image.” Instead, they turn all that effort into improving the “image of God” inside them.
He likes that, also.
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls…” (Mt. 11: 29, NIV).
Check out these four signs of humility:
Humility is looking “up” to everyone else.
Jesus had this habit of picking up children and sitting them on his lap. His mind was always on the least, the diseased, the rejected, the youngest.
Look up to everybody. Assign importance to every single person in your day. Serve them instead of expecting them to serve you. Every human is to be honored and served since they are made in the “image” of God.
Give up the “image” chase.
I believe in neatness and appropriateness. The current “image” gig, however, is something you may as well give up! You will never “out-image” the movie stars. You will never “out-power” the pro athletes. Give it up.
Your social media following is microscopic compared to “influencers.” Give it up.
Relax in your own skin. Be comfortable with the level of influence God has given you. Celebrate your peers who out-perform you. I know it hurts to do that, but (actually) they are not really a big deal either.
Get down on the floor.
I remember Derek Prince, a great British theologian, saying that every day he spread out, face down, on the floor. He was BRILLIANT. He said “he needed to do it.”
Humility is meditating on God’s Divinity, Eternity, and Power (and 25 other elements of His Majesty). He humbled Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and let him lose his mind and eat grass outside like a cow for seven years when he got into self-worship.
Get a little “carpet time” every day. Remind yourself of his awesome greatness and our tininess in this vast universe He created with the breath of His mouth.
Around God’s throne, the archangels and saints all lie face down and cast their crowns at His feet.
It’s called “worship.” He likes it.
When you humble yourself, God will exalt you.
The world says, “The tougher and meaner you are, the further you will get in life.” God, however, “opposes the proud but give grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5: 5)
God LOVES to find a simple, singing, rock-slinging shepherd boy out in the field and make him king.
He watches our attitudes when we are alone, despised, and rejected. If our attitude stays kind and humble, He is preparing a huge stage for your humility to be displayed to the world.
Yes, humility is God’s greatest force. If the Creator of the universe is humble, shouldn’t I be?
Help me, Lord.