What does it mean to be humble? A dictionary definition is: not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive. According to an article I read in Forbes, here are some habits or traits of someone who is humble or acts in humility. (1) They’re Situationally Aware; (2) They Retain Relationships; (3)They Make Difficult Decisions With Ease; (4) They Put Others First; (5) They Listen; (6) They’re Curious; (7) They Speak Their Minds; (8) They Take Time To Say “Thank You”; (9) They Have An Abundance Mentality; (10) They Start Sentences With “You” Rather Than “I”; (11) They Accept Feedback; (12) They Assume Responsibility; and (13) They Ask For Help.
And, they live with God and are restored by him. “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” I had underlined this verse in my Bible. Being humble is good. We should strive to be better at being humble. We all know people who are on the other end of the spectrum who are proud, like to hear themselves talk, and always clamor for attention. They can be a bit annoying.
God tells us in these verses that his anger won’t last forever. He knows that if he stays mad and continues to discipline his children there won’t be anybody left. “I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.” We can never live up to God’s standards, but we have no excuse for not trying. It’s not like we don’t know what God wants from us. It’s not a big secret. He has been using his prophets to bring the message. Now it’s up to us to listen.
As we look around, what do we see? We see a world ravaged by sinfulness. Yet, just when we begin to lose faith in other humans, we see a random act of kindness. Whether we are the recipient of it or not doesn’t matter. Just seeing the love of God lived out in the world is encouraging. When is the last time you did something special for someone you didn’t know?
Take some time to reflect on your life. Are you living a life of humility? How are you serving your fellow man?
Let’s pray … Lord, forgive me for my selfish behaviors. Help me to be humbler in my interactions with others. You have given me a job to do, and I must do it. Show me the path. Thank you for all the gifts you have given me. Each day I am in awe of you and your majesty. Thank you for your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
