Humility & Pride
When you think of humility what comes to mind? Do you see a quiet individual that is gentle and loving? Or maybe you see an individual that does not speak much about themselves. I was right there in my perception until the Lord confronted my mentality.
“It is not a great feat for one to be humble. When an individual is humble it simply means that they are walking as I intended. Humility is at the baseline of all things. Humility is simply obedience to Me. It is submission to My authority. It acknowledges My deity as well as the fact that all things were made for Me. It is when one resists My will that they walk in pride. They exalt themselves above My governance; above My way. They seek to establish their own way of doing things and pursue their own will. This is the spirit of pride.
Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Notice why Lucifer fell. He fell because he lifted himself up in pride. He decided that he was going to circumvent My design and establish his own. I created and appointed him to the function I desired for him, but in his heart, He rejected My way and sought to deviate from my structure.
Thus, the creation has sought to be the Creator, for it is the Creator who designs the structure. This is a challenge to my Deity. It is an attempt to subject Me to another’s will. This is why I must abase such an individual.
Isaiah 44:7
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
Who is likened unto Me? There is none like Me, there is none that can do what I do. I am the only God, and should be respected as such. I am the Creator of all things. Humility therefore, is when one recognizes and abides by this truth. Pride, on the other hand, is when this truth is rejected.”
There you have it. The first person you must be in submission to is God. If you are in submission to God you will abide by all His commandments. His Word will be law for your life and His ways will be your preference. Therefore, before you can submit to anyone else, you must submit to God. In fact, it is your submission to God that will lead you into submitting to others.
We will speak more about this tomorrow.