A Magnolia's Heart Beats

WFW - Humbling Ourselves In Christ

I love to think of humility in terms relating to an anchor. An anchor, is by definition, something that keeps something held or permanently fixed. Anchors are lowered to ground things and raised to move things.

Our humility level is something we have to keep in check, lowering it when it seems to be floating high.

Lowering the Anchor

The Greek word for the phrase humble yourselves is tapeinoō. This verb means:

1) to make low, bring low

a) to level, reduce to a plain

b) metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances

1) to assign a lower rank or place to

2) to abase

3) to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded

4) to humble or abase myself by humble living

c) to lower, depress

1) of one's soul bring down one's pride

2) to have a modest opinion of one's self

3) to behave in an unassuming manner

4) devoid of all haughtiness

Humility truly is the absence of pride. With God as our God, we should always be humble, just as Christ is humble.

Charles Swindoll writes, "Humility is an attitude of the heart. An attitude of the mind. It is knowing your proper place....It is knowing your role and fulfilling it for God's glory and praise."

We can truly please God with this attitude and bring Him much glory by living out true humility and not even calling attention to it. We don't go around declaring, "I'm humble!"

Any time that we find ourselves becoming prideful, perhaps in receiving praise that is due God, we need to make sure we have our humility in check. We need to point people to the Creator who endowed us with the ability or patience or talent to do whatever we are praised for.

" I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. " ~ Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

In humbling ourselves under God's hand, we realize that we are not deserving of anything more than the gift of grace He offers through Jesus Christ our Lord, and we don't even deserve that. We get it because He loves us.

The Greek word that describes the mighty hand of God in 1 Peter 5:6 is cheir. It means:

1) by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one

2) fig. applied to God symbolising his might, activity, power

a) in creating the universe

b) in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one)

c) in punishing

d) in determining and controlling the destinies of men

I love how the Lord displays his might, activity and power in upholding and preserving us and in determining and controlling our destinies.

The Anchor is Raised

God exalts the humble in His time. The Hebrew word for lift up is hypsoō, which means:

1) to lift up on high, to exalt

2) metaph.

a) to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity

b) to exalt, to raise to dignity, honour and happiness

That's the gravy - the bonus above mercy and grace. Our God is so precious to raise us to dignity, honor and happiness in life. We must be careful to give Him the glory for it. We must let the anchor of humility remain grounded, not in the depths of sinking sand, but in Christ our Lord.

In Due Time

Do you ever wonder when God will exalt you? It will be at a time of His choosing, what is called due time. The Greek word for this phrase is kairos, which means:

1) due measure
2) a measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time, hence:
a) a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for
b) opportune or seasonable time
c) the right time
d) a limited period of time
e) to what time brings, the state of the times, the things and events of time

At just the right time, and perhaps for a limited period of time, God will let you shine. We should be take to remain humble during this time. God's lifting us up does not cancel out humility; rather, it enhances it. We will be brought forth to shine for God in His time.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

Wrapping it Up

Our best example of true humility comes from Christ Himself.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" ~ Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV)

God uses the humble to further His will. Look at the lives of Abraham, Noah, Moses, Rahab, Esther, David, Jonah, and eventually Paul. Look at Christ, our perfect example. Oh, may we be like Him, willing to be nothing and totally obedient, exalting our Father!

The anchor of humility begs us to ask the question, "Am I willing to lower myself to nothing so that I may be raised up under the mighty hand of God for His glory and for His will, not my own?"

Questions for Reflection: Where is your anchor of humility set? Have you give control of the anchor to God or are you managing it yourself? Can you think of a time that God has exalted you to a position because of your willingness to be humble?

Verse for the Day: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." ~ James 4:6 (NIV)

Prayer: Our dear and most gracious Heavenly Father, we pray that the anchor of our humility would lay at rest until You raise it for Your own glory. Help us to do away with any pride we may have and give You all the glory and honor and majesty due Your name when people praise us. Help us remember that You give the gifts and help we need when we need it. May we never rush Your timing or Your will for our lives. Thank You for anchoring our humility in You and help us keep it there. In the precious name of Jesus Your Son, Amen.

A - Always remember that everything good gift you have comes from God. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." ~ James 1:17 (NIV)

N - Never seek praise for yourself. Let it come by God's doing. "How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ?" ~ John 5:44 (NIV)

C - Consider others better than yourself. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." ~ Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

H - Honor God above all others. "You shall have no other gods before me." ~ Exodus 20:3 (NIV)

O - Outfit yourself with humility each day. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." ~ Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)

R - Regard praise for your ability, skill and talents as special, and give God the glory for them. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. " ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

The purpose of Word Filled Wednesday is to share the Word of God through photo's and Scripture. Amydeanne, over at The 160 Acre Woods, is our hostess. Be sure to link up and share your own, and drop her a thank you for hosting this wonderful meme each week. It always blesses my heart to read all the posts and see the photos and verses. This is a wonderful way to minister to others and to be ministered to by reading others posts. Please visit by clicking on the button below.