At the beginning of 2021, I asked the Lord to give me a word for the year. A word that I needed. This word has literally been the theme of my life these past months.
Humility….
At first, I thought ok, I’ll search scripture, write out and study verses daily. I’ll apply these truths to my life and I’ll be good. Ummm…. wow have I been in shock at the pride this girl has.
Noah Webster defines Humility in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary as “In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.”
Oh my, this definition is convicting haha.
As I have searched God’s Word, it has shown me who Shannon is, why Shannon is, and how Shannon needs to be.
I relate to the Apostle Peter on so many levels. I am quick to voice my opinion. I am ready at a moment’s notice to stand up and defend my Lord. I love hard, I give my all, I am an open book. Sadly like Peter, I’m quick to be filled with pride and try to do things in my own power. (We can stop and cry right here!!!) Yet in all of this, I long to be like Peter in humbling myself, getting my act together and realizing who I am and living in Who He is!
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5
Here in the first book of Peter, I believe he is speaking from experience. It’s easy (because of this stinking, sinful flesh) to get lifted up in Who we belong to. I’m proud to be a child of God. Sometimes too proud. To the point, I forget that it has nothing to do with me. I did nothing to deserve His salvation, it was actually my sin that nailed Him to that cruel cross. He paid the full price, and He freely washed my sins away when I humbled myself. Seeing myself as a sinner brought me low. It had nothing to do with me, I inherited this sin nature from Adam when he fell to sin in the garden. Yet, as the inner sinner began to reveal himself in my life, I realized that I needed SOMEONE to take that old filthy inner sinner away. I couldn’t do it. I tried. I wanted to be clean. I just didn’t possess the power to forgive myself from being born a sinner. I turned to the One who could. September 17, 1996 I humbled myself and accepted His free gift of forgiveness. Like Peter, I can get carried away with Whose child I am and forget that I am nothing without Him.
Peter goes on in 1 Peter 5 to warn us to live in humility.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:6
The first warning Peter gives us is to humble ourselves. Bring ourselves low. Not so low God can’t use us, but don’t think so highly of ourselves. Remember it’s not all about us. Place ourselves under God’s complete control and leading. Will we always understand? No, but Peter tells us that God will exalt or lift us up (honor our service for Him).
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Don’t try to handle things on our own. Trials come, heartaches and cares of life will weigh us down but we have SomeOne who cares about every little detail of our lives. Our Saviour’s shoulders are strong enough to bear our burdens and cares. Give it to God.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8
To be sober and be vigilant means to abstain from wine or anything that makes you lose focus, watch, be discreet, keep awake, give strict attention to. Peter is exhorting us to watch out for the little things that try to creep in like pride. Pride takes our focus off of Christ and puts it on ourselves.
We have an adversary, that stinking devil, that is following and circling us, plotting against us and desiring to entirely swallow us up. He wants us to fall in pride. He wants us to lose our focus and take things upon ourselves.
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Peter 5:9
Let’s stand against that loser. Be sure in our faith. We know Whom we have believed in. We know that our Lord Jesus Christ is King of Kings. He is our strength, our hope. He is the One who delivers us and helps us in our time of need. When pride creeps in resist knowing that we aren’t the first to go through this. We can reach out to a dear sister in Christ, she understands and will help and pray with us.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 Peter 5:10
Aren’t you thankful for grace!?! Grace that is greater than all of our sin. His amazing grace, that saved us, will mend and completely, thoroughly restore a humble spirit within us. His grace will fix our proud heart, grace will stablish us in a humble direction. Grace will strengthen us in confirming Who our power comes from. We can be strong through Him. Grace settles us. It reminds us that we are standing on a firm foundation.
I’m so thankful that through this journey of life, we can learn from Peter to rise above our mishaps and pride.
We can live a life of grace in humility.
We can overcome if we see things from a different view-God’s View.