True humility is truly beautiful! And if today’s Christian women grasped the significance of this character trait we would see heavenly beauty and feminine nobility grace our churches, homes, and communities like never before. While humility is often misunderstood and devalued by the culture, this week Leslie shares about the importance of cultivating and keeping a humble heart.
PODCAST TRANSCRIPT
The world has its own methods for leaving your mark on this world, but what was the example of Christ? The indelible mark of the Cross is not one that comes through self-promotion but surrender … and at the heart of surrender is the beautiful quality of humility. Jesus embodied humility flawlessly and we are called to follow in His steps.
Instead of making yourself likeable to those around you, focus on adopting a posture of humility before God. You will find that He will lift you up and use you mightily to accomplish His will in this world. Refrain from getting in the way of the message He wants to communicate in and through your life or complicating it by drawing attention to yourself. Look at these examples of humility and how they did that.
BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES OF HUMILITY
CORRIE TEN BOOM— Humbly shared the message of how there’s no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still even though she felt like an ill-equipped, simple clock-maker’s daughter with a Dutch accent.
BIDDY CHAMBERS— A woman who was fully aware of her own weakness and limitations in getting Oswald’s words to the world and surrendered her desire to publish her husband’s words to God.
JESUS CHRIST— Humility personified! Even though Jesus knew the authority that Father had given Him, He laid aside all that He was and took a towel to wash the disciples’ feet.
A key ingredient to humility is realizing that it is not based on our success but on our faithfulness to the cause God has put before us. Remember God measures success differently than this world. The key way to cultivate humility is to not grow dissatisfied and discontent with what He has given but to faithfully steward what God has put before you. It may not seem glamorous or exciting, but as you walk in obedience and faithfulness, He will open doors and enlarge your borders in His time and way.
Self-promotion is the opposite spirit of humility. The Christian life isn’t about promoting ourself or our cause, but in denying our flesh that vies for attention and wants to be noticed by others. Our only concern should be in making Jesus known — even if no one remembers our name.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is no better way for the beauty of Heaven to shine gloriously through our lives than when we get out of the way and allow Jesus to increase in our hearts and lives. If pride has been a stumbling block in your past, bring that to the foot of the Cross and repent of it. Then ask for His amazing grace to change your heart and enrobe it in humility.
KEY SCRIPTURES
- Luke 16:10
- James 4:10
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
- Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom
- Calvary Love by Amy Carmichael
