Humbling Ourselves

Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Listen to this devotional:

James 4:6 – But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (ESV)

Proverbs 16:25 – There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death. (ISV)

We live in a city. It is a small city, but a city nonetheless. Our city is growing quickly, but I do know my way around. If I need help, I can get out my map and soon find out how to get where I want or need to go. It is all good.

Quite a few years ago, one of my friends and I drove to a small town outside of our city for a women's evening event at a mutual friend's home. Even though this town is small, there are a few tricky turns and streets, due to the railroad track which runs through it. My friend knew how to get where we were going, so it was no problem getting there. I presumed that she would know how to get out of that small town as well. I presumed that I would know how to get back out onto the highway. When we arrived, it was still daylight. When we returned, it was dark. Therein lay our problem. Somehow, we got completely turned around and had no idea how to get out of the small town. We drove and drove and drove, thinking that one street after another was the correct one, only to find out it was a dead end as well. By this time, we thought it was pretty hilarious that we could be so lost in such a little town. Finally, we saw someone walking along the road, so amidst our gales of laughter, we humbled ourselves and stopped and asked directions. In no time, we were out on the highway heading home.

Humbling ourselves is painful, to say the least. But God gives grace to the humble, and He resists the proud. That is a sobering thought. In what areas of our lives are we being proud? In what areas are we being humble? What precious words in our text for today! He gives us grace to humble ourselves. Then He gives us more grace. And the peace of God fills our hearts. Oh, thank You, Lord Jesus!

Philippians 4:7 – Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. (GWT)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are such a proud people. We think we can do life on our own; we think we know the right road, but we are so mistaken. That road leads to death. Open our eyes so that we can see where we are being proud and stubborn. Thank You for Your grace to help us humble ourselves, and for the peace that follows — peace that we don't understand and can't explain, but peace that we know is there. It is You guarding our thoughts and emotions through Jesus Christ. How thankful we are for Your peace and Your grace! Amen.

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About the author:

Judy Miller <gjmiller@telusplanet.net>
Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

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