Humility, the quality or state of being humble, is a common theme during Lent. Through His humble acts, Jesus taught us that humility is a powerful force in a world where pride and self-centeredness abide. Humility makes a world of difference in our lives, but pride and self-reliance tend to get in the way. As we are only human, we want to do things our way. Depending on others—even on God—can be a threat to our self-confidence and fragile ego. At times, this can cause us to wait until the last minute to ask for the Lord’s help.
Humility is a life-long spiritual quest. It is the surrender of our will to God’s will. As The Lord’s Prayer states, “…thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer teaches us to align our will with heaven’s will and our heart with the ways of God. Humility is not a sign of weakness; on the contrary, it shows that our strength comes from the Lord and reflects the ways of Jesus.
In Christian teachings, true greatness does not come from worldly strength or power, but from humility. As we continue in our Lenten journey, let us learn from Jesus who “…gave up his divine privilege; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Let us discover the power of His way, attitude and spirit for daily living. What does humility mean to you? Please share with us.
Lord, teach us the power and ways of humility.