The Wisdom of Humility (3)

The best protection a believer can have from the devil and his schemes is a humble heart.

Jonathan Edwards

Let me share an incident that happened a couple of months back. A young lady was found having an exchange with an older man at a car park. It appeared something had gone wrong and for whatever reason she was unable to maintain her composure causing her to speak very rudely and disrespectfully to the man. The man on the other hand was calm amidst her ranting and insults because as a church worker (yes please, the incident occurred at a church car park while service was ongoing), he had been trained to manage such situations with decorum.

The next morning at his place of work, he had an important role to play on a recruitment panel that was expected to carry out interviews to fill vacancies for their organization. And you guessed right, amongst the first candidates, in walked the very lady from the unpleasant exchange the previous day. Needless to say, she didn’t get the job, not because of his influence or any incompetence on her part but rather because she was overcome with shame and embarrassment and could barely sit through the interview. She left!!!

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:1-4 NIV

Jesus Christ came into this world to restore humility by being a humble person and being obedient. God resists the proud but He gives grace to the humble. May we not go through this life with God being in opposition with us. What a terrible life that will be. In fact, I doubt anything would work in your favour should you find yourself in that place.

The loss of humility is the cause of every defect and failure in the human race.

Andrew Murray

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 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.” – James 4:4-10 NIV

3 Things to remember:

• Wisdom avoids unnecessary conflict.
• Wisdom is quick to ask God for help.
• Wisdom does not play with the devil or try to push God away.

Now let us say this prayer together:

“Lord I am thankful for the restoration of humility in my life because I have discovered that a lack of humility is the explanation for every defect, sin and failure in my life. I pray that through my humility you will give me grace. I am thankful that You will no longer resist or oppose me throughout the course of my life.

Restore me to the place of a son/ daughter that I may be humble to receive instruction, guidance, correction, chastening and rebukes through Your word, the Holy Spirit and any Spiritual Authority You have ordained over my life. May I bear the special fruits of righteousness and holiness as a result of being Your son/daughter through humility. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

With Love, Esinam.