There are many uses for this collection of Scriptures and devotions addressing humility. I encourage you to go through the passages and devotions during your quiet time or with your small group or Bible study. May God bless you with increasing humility as you seek to understand His purposes for your life.
Humility is an important aspect of effective prayer.
2 Chronicles 7:14:
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
James 4:6-10:
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the
proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he
will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your
hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter
to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and he will lift you up.
Humility is a necessary aspect of sincere repentance in prayer. Read about David's humble repentance in King David's Key to a Healthy Faith.
Humility is one of the most basic elements of faith.
Micah 6:8:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Pride (the opposite of humility) takes different forms at different stages of life. For more insights, see 3 Stages of Pride.
Humility makes us wiser.
Psalm 25:9:
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Proverbs 11:2:
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
James 3:13:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good
life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
To read about a humble professor of the Bible and an arrogant student see Arrogant Ignorance.
God favors the humble.
Isaiah 66:2: "Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word."
Psalm 18:27:
You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 138:6: Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Psalm 147:6:
The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
Psalm 149:4:
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Proverbs 3:34:
The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.
Proverbs 15:33: Wisdom's instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.
We need to remember what the Bible teaches about humility when sharing the gospel: Some Folks Need Law, Others Need Grace.
Matthew 23:11-12:
The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be
exalted.
Mark 9:35:
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Luke 14:11: "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
The Pharisee and the tax collector praying:
Luke 18:14:
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified
before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and
those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Read about a man whom God honored for doing dishes and other manual tasks: Cleaning Bathrooms.
Humility is a safeguard for us.
Proverbs 16:18-19:
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
Proverbs 18:12:
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 29:23:
Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.
We use the terms "shame," "guilt," and "conviction," but we sometimes miss our need for humility in our relationship with the Lord. See Shame, Guilt, Conviction for some insights.
It gives us a realistic view of ourselves and prevents bragging.
Proverbs 27:2:
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
Romans 12:3:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each
of you.
To see how the self-esteem movement encourages pride and frowns on humility, see You Think You're Awesome?
Humility is admitting we are children dependent on our heavenly Father.
Matthew 18:1-4:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Sometimes we forget who gets credit, and the self-esteem movement encourages us to do that. See The Glory Is God's, Not Ours.
Humility is an important part of getting along with others.
Romans 12:16:
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
1 Corinthians 13:4:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Ephesians 4:1-3:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Philippians 2:3-11:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Pride often results in jealousy. Read about a humble servant of the Lord whom God exalted in a mighty way: Don't Be Jealous of Other People's Gifts.
Colossians 3:12:
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
1 Peter 3:8:
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 5:5-6:
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
To see an excellent example of someone who showed great humility to honor and respect an older woman, see Was Naomi a Good Mother-in-Law?
Best of all: humility draws us closer to the Lord.
Isaiah 57:15: This is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever,
whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the
one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the
lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
To read about the blessings of humility see To Walk Humbly.
Bible Love Notes
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