Five Steps Toward Humility

We all have a pride problem. We come into this world believing we are #1 and that our wants, needs, and desires should be everyone’s top priority. Our hardwiring tells us that we deserve to be at the center of the universe and that other people – even God – should do our bidding. This is, as a famous politician put it, an inconvenient truth. Nobody wants to admit it, but it is still true.

Another part of our pride problem is that the God of the universe hates pride and loves humility. Which puts us all in a very bad position. For example, But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  (James 4:6, 7) That the Lord opposes something should make us want to be on the other side of whatever that something is. Especially since, in contrast, He gives grace to the humble.

Those of us who follow Christ should want to pursue humility. But how?

I’m only a fellow traveler in the pursuit of humility. I struggle with pride like everybody else. But I offer these suggestions in the hope that we might all take a few steps away from pride, and closer to humility – and to our Savior.

Pray for humility. We often say, God will answer our prayers with “yes,” “no,” or “wait.” But 1 John 5:14 assures us that if we pray according to His will, the answer will be “yes!” Humility is God’s will for every Christian.

Ask for feedback about your own pride/humility from someone who loves you and will tell you the truth. We are often blinded to our own shortcomings, so feedback can really help.

Hold in reserve the memory of your own failure and sin. Of course we shouldn't dwell on these things, and Scripture tells us to “forget the past and press toward the goal of Christ-likeness” (cf. Philippians 3:13-14). But it helps our humility to remember how easy it is for us to trip and fall.

Give thanks for trials that teach us humility. Obviously this is tough to do. But it is another way to cooperate with God as He shapes our character.

Fill your mind with Scripture, especially with passages that exalt the greatness and glory of God. Seeing Him “high and lifted up” will give us a Christ-centered view of life and death, time and eternity.

The Apostle Peter, who certainly struggled with pride himself, said it well: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you (1 Peter 5:5b, 6).