Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Face of Humility

Suggested Bible Reading: Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God…

Psalm 51:1a

There are those who pretty much live out their “Christian” life in this way—God helps those who help themselves. It is difficult for them to connect that the God who gave them life also wants to help them, daily. God is intimately acquainted with us. For us, however, to be intimately acquainted with God takes humility. The, God helps those who help themselves, approach doesn’t allow room for much humility. The emphasis is pretty much on the individual will power of “me.”

Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others (wikipedia.org). Here’s the attitude of a Jesus follower coming to confession. When we ask God to have mercy on us, it is the first step in acknowledging that our lives are nothing without God’s presence and this opens the door to repentance. True confession, honest repentance cannot begin without first stepping towards humility and asking for God’s mercy.

“Helping ourselves” isn’t the Jesus way. God didn’t create us so that we could “go it alone” or “make our own way.” By asking for God’s mercy, we identify him as the creator of our lives. It is at this point of our saying, have mercy on me, O God that humility overtakes our pretentions and he can continue finishing the good work He has begun.

Thought for the Day: In what areas of my life do I continue to try to do things my own way?

Have mercy on me, O God.
I cannot help myself and my life is nothing without you.
Amen.

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