Humility is the ability to see ourselves as God describes us.

During the 1970’s, Muhammad Ali reigned as the heavyweight boxing champion for most of the decade. And, no one was more aware of his greatness than Ali himself. He would call himself King, Superman, God, and on countless occasions would remind everyone: “I am the greatest.”
After boarding an airplane one day, however, Ali met his match. The flight attendant was walking up the aisle making sure everyone had their seat belts fastened, when she noticed Ali had not fastened his. When she asked him to do so, he just grunted: “Hmph! Superman don’t need no seat belt!” Unimpressed, the flight attendant just smiled and said, “Sir, Superman don’t need no airplane.” Ali buckled his seat belt.

1 Peter 5:6-7 teaches a profound, yet often overlooked truth. We are instructed to “humble ourselves,” but we frequently miss God’s counsel on how that is done biblically: by casting all our cares on Him. Human pride cannot receive help, nor will it ask for it. Consequently, God “opposes the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6). So, when we cast all of our cares on Him, we are in absolute humility, since we are trusting God to intervene, direct, and empower all that we are concerned about. The Tower of Babel, in Genesis 11 is a classic example. The people’s goal was to build a tower that would reach heaven. Actually, that sounds rather noble to me! However, they were operating in pride and self-sufficiency. No call to God for help. Consequently, God confused their efforts and began beseech in the people to return to Him in recognition of their need.

Here is the Contrast between Pride & Humility:

Pride demands equal rights — Humility sees life as a gift.
Pride relies on personal effort — Humility relies on God’s power.
Pride is what religion is built from — Humility is required for the Christian; God gets the glory.
Pride focuses on measuring up — Humility focuses on undeserved mercy.

How Do We Enter into Humility?

Acknowledge our own weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Cast our cares on God (1 Peter 5:7).

My Time With God

1.) Preparation Time

“For thus says the High and Exalted One…I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit, in order to receive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15)

God says He dwells in two places: the holy place and the lowly place. List areas in which you struggle with human pride and self- centeredness in your…
Personal Life:
Family Life:
Church Life:
Business life:
Other:

2.) Waiting Time

During your waiting time, Let God…

Love You.
“God, I feel your love and grace today, especially in the area of…”

Search You.
“God, You have permission to reveal selfishness & arrogance in my life.”

Show You.
“God, is there any ‘care’ that I need to cast on You as I enter this day?”

3.) Confession Time
“Why does God want to humble a person? Nobody can work for God until humility has taken hold of his life. Otherwise he magnifies himself out of all proportion to God.” (Paul Rader)

“I believe that the first test of a truly great person is their humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power. But really great people have a curious feeling that greatness is not in them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other person and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.” (John Ruskin)

Confess areas that you have not cast on Him, and where you have unknowingly resisted His grace and help:

4.) Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Psalm 51:16-17 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

5.) Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind:

6.) Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people of whom you will now intercede. Look up Philippians 2:3 and pray in line with what that verse says. Pray for success, for God’s richest blessings to fall on these people; start now to set aside feelings of comparison and competition. Pray for God to finish His work in them, whatever that may mean.

Name Request

7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to Petition God Properly:
-Talk to Him about your obstacles to personal surrender and brokenness.
-Be honest with God. Tell Him about your cares & acknowledge your need for Him in these areas.
-Pray “Thy will be done,” whatever that means in your life.

8.) Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing God has impressed upon me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to Take In My Obedience to God This Week:

My Goal: To implement these steps in the next 7 days.

9.) Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through the eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His grace and power.

10.) Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by Recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by Recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse: (1 Peter 5:5-7)

This Week’s Time Alone With God:

Monday – This Lesson.

Tuesday – In our Memory Verse, we are instructed there, to humble ourselves under God’s almighty hand, then we’re told how to humble ourselves: by casting every one of our cares on Him.

Q: In what areas of your life do you see yourself walking in humility?

Q: In what areas do you fail to walk in humility, based upon the fact that you sought control in those areas rather than cast them upon the Lord?

Q: What keeps you from handling these areas in the second question the way you handled the areas in the first question?

Stop and pray. Commit those areas listed in the second question to the Lord, and ask for His grace to enable you to walk in humility.

Wednesday – Read again Isaiah 57:15
Note, once again, that God defines where He will dwell: the high & holy place, and the very lowly place. 2 extremes, but 2 places that shed much light on God and our relationship to Him.

Q: Why does God choose only to dwell among and give His grace to the humble?

Q: What are the similarities between the “holy” place and the “lowly” place? Why would God limit Himself to these two places, based upon those similarities?

In your own words, pray that God would build you into a proper dwelling place for God; a place that is both holy & lowly.

Thursday – Read again Psalm 51:16-17.
It’s always interesting to note how easy it is for God’s people to become so consumed with the external “sacrifices” that look so religious, that we miss the heart posture that God is essentially interested in.

Why do we confuse the external duties with the real issues God wants us to wrestle with inside our hearts?

Jot down the obstacles to personal surrender and brokenness in your life.
Pray for yourself now, regarding the two responses you’ve just written down.

Friday – More than once, the Scripture reminds us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:6). In Genesis 32:24-32, we see that God wrestles with Jacob to bring him to a point of honesty and humility. Only then does he receive the blessing.

Q: Why can God not afford to trust His grace to those who are proud?

God could bless Jacob, because he finally was:
Honest with God.
Alone with God.
Hungry for God.
Broken by God.

Today, pray that these same criteria and results would emerge in your life, and in those that you love and care for around you.