1Peter 5:5; Matthew 23:12
Be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” . . . And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
What of Today’s Verse…
The Lord wants humility to be the spiritual attire that adorns our character. “Be clothed with humility.” This is crucial, since “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” We cannot live by grace unless we are willing to walk in humility. Any other approach is some form of pride, which always meets God’s resistance. These are absolutes that every person must face. “Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The scriptures describe numerous individuals who demonstrate these truths.
Nebuchadnezzar, exalted himself. “Is not this great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?” (Dan_4:30). God opposed this self-exaltation by driving the king out into the fields to eat grass like an animal. Eventually, this banished king looked to heaven, and the Lord restored him to the throne. Then, magnifying the true King, he proclaimed the great lesson he had learned. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven . . . And those who walk in pride He is able to abase” (Dan_4:37).
Manasseh, while king in Jerusalem, also exalted himself. He did so in a most wicked manner, polluting God’s temple with idolatry. “He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD . . . He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God” (2Ch_33:5, 2Ch_33:7). In doing so, he enticed the people of God into untold abominations. “So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel” (2Ch_33:9). As a consequence of this prideful rebellion, the Lord had Manasseh taken away captive into Babylon. Then, he humbled himself before God. In spite of the king’s arrogant disobedience, the Lord heard his prayer and restored him to the throne. “Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom.” (2Ch_33:12-13)
Truly, everyone who lifts himself up in pride will be brought low. Conversely, any person who walks in humility will be lifted up to liberation and blessing.
Let us Pray:
Dear King of heaven and earth, I am convicted of times when I behaved proudly, like these two kings. That has always led to my spiritual defeat and bondage. I thank You for drawing my heart toward humility. I humbly turn to You to pour out Your grace upon me, as You did upon them. Through Christ I pray, Amen
Words of Wisdom
Healing
I am strong in spirit, mind and body.
It is natural to want to hurry the healing process when I am feeling unwell. I want to feel energy surge through my body, feel the strength of my muscles and the vibrancy of my being. But I heal more quickly when I rest and listen to my body the way I would a child seeking my attention. By asking, “What is it you need?” and actively listening to the reply, I can respond with care and wisdom.
During the healing process, I appreciate the complexity of my body, the pulsating of my heart, the intricacies of each organ and cell. I affirm that divine life and healing energy make me strong and healthy. I give thanks for my body’s God-given capacity to heal.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. –Psalm 36:9
