Wow! It's been a while since I've stopped to blog. I've thought about it many times but finally stopped to actually do it. Life has been pretty busy the last month and I am so thankful that it is slowing down.
Now, about my challenge...it really is becoming a more natural way of living. I am thankful that I catch myself guarding my words and weighing them before I speak. I know that Rome wasn't built in a day...and old habits are hard to break...but God's grace is poured out daily to see the transformation take place. I was actually thinking to myself just yesterday that it is getting easier to walk in Psalm 17:3's challenge. That was yesterday...then there is today.
TODAY I was reading God's word and out of the blue I remembered a couple things that I said yesterday. I made a comment about someones outfit; nothing major rude or anything but why did I even say it out loud? Then later that same evening, I laughed at something that struck me as funny...at someone else's expense. Oh, they didn't know that I did...but I know. So, here I am once again saying, 'Father, I was wrong.'
I realized as I was praying about it that my attitude on these comments was directly related to my lack of humility. In both instances, if I get honest with myself, I was exalting myself above the other person. I was saying, 'I know how to dress and you don't' and 'wow, I'm better than you are.' Sure...I didn't actually SAY that or even THINK that, but it was there. Humility is something that we learn from Jesus. Matthew 11:29 he said, 'LEARN humility from me because I am lowly in my heart.' Christ's very nature, his heart and his mind, were set in a place of humility. I was pondering this and my heart was led to Phil. 2:3-7 (Amplified Version):
3Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]...5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [[a]possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [b]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped [c]or retained,
7But stripped Himself [of all privileges and [d]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
The very MIND of Christ is one of humility. I must LET this mind work in me. He esteemed everyone better than himself and laid down his life for them. If I let this attitude work in me, then it is only natural for my speech to be seasoned with humility and grace. Humility, like praise, is a muzzle and it is one I greatly desire to be upon my life.
So, today I commit to learn from Jesus humility. Dear friends and family, if you see me walking or taking without it....thump my head! I want a muzzle of praise and humility upon my mouth today and always!
Now, about my challenge...it really is becoming a more natural way of living. I am thankful that I catch myself guarding my words and weighing them before I speak. I know that Rome wasn't built in a day...and old habits are hard to break...but God's grace is poured out daily to see the transformation take place. I was actually thinking to myself just yesterday that it is getting easier to walk in Psalm 17:3's challenge. That was yesterday...then there is today.
TODAY I was reading God's word and out of the blue I remembered a couple things that I said yesterday. I made a comment about someones outfit; nothing major rude or anything but why did I even say it out loud? Then later that same evening, I laughed at something that struck me as funny...at someone else's expense. Oh, they didn't know that I did...but I know. So, here I am once again saying, 'Father, I was wrong.'
I realized as I was praying about it that my attitude on these comments was directly related to my lack of humility. In both instances, if I get honest with myself, I was exalting myself above the other person. I was saying, 'I know how to dress and you don't' and 'wow, I'm better than you are.' Sure...I didn't actually SAY that or even THINK that, but it was there. Humility is something that we learn from Jesus. Matthew 11:29 he said, 'LEARN humility from me because I am lowly in my heart.' Christ's very nature, his heart and his mind, were set in a place of humility. I was pondering this and my heart was led to Phil. 2:3-7 (Amplified Version):
3Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]...5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [[a]possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [b]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped [c]or retained,
7But stripped Himself [of all privileges and [d]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
The very MIND of Christ is one of humility. I must LET this mind work in me. He esteemed everyone better than himself and laid down his life for them. If I let this attitude work in me, then it is only natural for my speech to be seasoned with humility and grace. Humility, like praise, is a muzzle and it is one I greatly desire to be upon my life.
So, today I commit to learn from Jesus humility. Dear friends and family, if you see me walking or taking without it....thump my head! I want a muzzle of praise and humility upon my mouth today and always!
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