“How are you today?” This innocent question came from a Walgreens employee as I put my new cane up on the counter. My response was, “A little humbled at the moment. I never figured I’d need a cane at 37.” We joke about how people avoid praying for patience, but few of us pray for humility either. Being humble is both beneficial and necessary to please God. Although the process to gain it is painful, humility lets us become more like Christ.
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. -James 4:4-7
James says humility is a key step in defeating Satan. Submission to God is required if a person wants to garner the strength to fend off the devil’s attacks and send him running the other way. Submission mandates a surrendering of one’s own will. There is no other way to achieve it.
The idea of God opposing the proud but granting grace to the humble is scattered throughout the whole of Scripture (Psalms 138, Proverbs 3:34, 1 Peter 5:5-6). This comes at no surprise. The humble look at life and realize their need for God’s help and guidance. The proud believe they can handle everything on their own, often refusing to seek God. The Creator wants to bestow grace upon mankind, but will not force them to accept this free gift. To those who will, however, God will send His Spirit to dwell within them. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to open spiritual doors for challenge resolution. Humble submission and obedience to God’s Will is vital for the Holy Spirit to indwell and aid them.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. -Romans 5:3-6
God uses daily struggles to refocus people’s attention on Him and His promises. Without humility however a person will simply be embittered or broken by the trials of life. The only way to grow through trials is through humility. Pride prevents us from learning and growing by redirecting our attention toward self-reliance or self-pity. This renewed focus on God’s guidance should lead us to adopt a more Christ-like spirit, thus pointing us to the faithful expectation of His promises.
Struggles are going to come. Satan is going to attack. We need help to successfully thwart the devil. God is ready, willing, and able to assist. The only question remaining is, “Are we going to humble ourselves before Him and obey?”