humility

True, I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think I’m seeing a pattern here in the biblical kings:

• Rehoboam humbled himself and the anger of the Lord turned away from him… ¹
• “Because Ahab has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days…” ²
• Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart… therefore the wrath of the LORD did not come on them… ³
• In his distress, Manasseh humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers… and He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication… ⁴
• “Josiah, because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.⁵

Humbling oneself hasn’t been popular in any age. Ours is certainly no exception.

But when we humble ourselves something amazing happens. The God of the Universe notices.⁶ The Most High hears.⁷ The Everlasting God is moved to entreaty and responds with compassion, forgiveness, healing, and restoration.⁸

I don’t know what you’re facing these days, but whatever the situation, I know God is always inclined to help those who humble themselves before Him. Here’s how I’m praying—why don’t you join me?

O God, though I know it pleases You most, this thing of humbling myself goes against every grain in me. I need Your help to choose a humble heart! Here again, today, I bow my knee and will before You, determined to honor You as the Sovereign in every area of my life. Now, please grant me the grace to live those words!