Yesterday we concluded our mini series on humility. We looked at what Godly Humility is and we explored why the Bible tells us we need Humility. But most importantly, we looked at how we can Humble Ourselves.
Go through the following 4 steps in learning how to grow in humility. It will take time, self reflection, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It will be difficult at times – but Lifespring, I ask that we Make Every Effort.
- First: we need to identify pride in ourselves.
a. Everyone struggles with pride at times, and this must be confessed.
b. But as you look at the following list, ask yourself, “Is my life characterized by this? Is it a discernable pattern in my life? Can I see it? Does my spouse see it? How about my friends or colleagues?”
● Am I teachable? Am I eager to learn from others, or do I resent having to learn from others?
● Do I submit to those who are in spiritual leadership over me? Or do I have tendencies to resist outwardly or inwardly? Do I pretend to submit, but then go and do whatever I am going to do?
● Do I depend on God through prayer, or do I depend on my abilities and experience to get things done? Is my life characterized by praying for all things and in all situations (Ephesians 6:18), or do I just hold a short prayer time each day?
● Am I humble culturally? Or do I become defensive if someone points out the shortcomings of my culture? Am I culturally arrogant and act superior to those from other cultures?
● Do I treat everyone the same, no matter what their station in life? Or do I feel or even act superior to them? Do I feel for those who are poor or don’t have education or position, or do I take advantage of them, or ignore them? Do I treat the wealthy or educated differently than the others? Yelled at Uber recently?
● Am I judgmental? Do I have a suspicious spirit about many people? Am I often critical of others?
● Do I try to draw attention to myself?
● Do I boast about my accomplishments? Or do I give due credit to God and the contributions of others?
● Do I obey God in everything?
- Second: confess any elements of pride identified by you and the Holy Spirit
- Third: Pray for the desire and ability to become humble in the area affected
a. Philippians 2:13 (NIV)for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
There is a difference between wanting to do something and having a deep desire to do something. When it comes to killing the flesh, when it comes to being Christ like. With the call of Maturity on the Lifespring family, wanting doesn’t cut it anymore. Only a genuine deep desire will allow breakthrough
- Fourth: Live in the opposite spirit of pride – Make Every Effort
a. Live it out in the grace that God will make available to you.
b. As you try to live it out, you will fail.
c. But each time you fall, get up again, ask God to cleanse you and forgive you.
d. As you do, He will grant you more grace, until you become a victor in this.
e. Humility will begin to form in your life in the same way that all character is formed.
f. Acts produce habits; habits breed dispositions (tendencies!); dispositions form the will – which is character! Character becomes culture
This is journey for all of us – let us as the family of Lifespring grow in humility. Let us start in our own lives first.