Humility and Repentance
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NRSV
Series: Pursuing Humility
Devotional: 4 of 7
As God continues to reveal the many layers of pride in your soul and mine, we are led into a time of repentance. On our knees in prayer, seeking His face, we acknowledge our need for His grace and mercy. In response to our cry for help, He is faithful to forgive us, drawing us deeper into His presence. (See 2 Chronicles 7:14)
In His Presence, we can take comfort in the words of 1 John 1:9, which says, "If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Grace, grace, and more grace is a divine gift from God that leads us into humility. Richard Foster once wrote, "We do not come by humility on our own. It is God who initiates contact with us, and not our own activity that leads us to God. We cannot manufacture God's initiative. Ultimately humility is a gift from God. However, we can prepare for the grace of humility by orienting our will toward God."
Indeed, God is the giver of the grace that is necessary for us to grow in the area of humility. James 4:6 speaks to this when it says, "But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."" This continual stream of grace gives you and I, as followers of Christ, the strength to "orient our will toward God," allowing the Holy Spirit to burn away the pride in our lives.
And that opens our eyes to our fourth observation about humility:
Observation #4: A continuous stream of God's grace makes it possible for the humble person to fall to their knees in prayer, repenting of the pride that so easily wells up inside of their heart.
Perhaps today, we should spend some extended time in prayer considering this interplay between grace, pride, repentance, and humility. It seems there is much the Lord might want to say to us.
OnThe3rdDay Devotionals
Devotionals that illustrate Biblical principles in a simple and short format that can be applied to your everyday life.
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