Humble Yourself Before God!

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

We often worry about our position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what we do. But Peter advises us to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. God is able and willing to bless us according to His timing. Humbly obey God regardless of present circumstances, and in His good time - either in this life or in the next- He will lift you up.

We need to present all our worries, anxieties, and problems to God in order to let Him handle them.  Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, to admit your need, and to let others in God's family help you. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But when we turn to God in repentance, He will bear the weight even of those struggles. Don't submit to circumstances, but to the Lord who controls circumstances.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Be sober means to be self-disciplined, to think rationally and not foolishly. Be vigilant means to be alert to the spiritual pitfalls of life and take appropriate steps to make certain that we do not stumble. Your adversary Satan is our avowed enemy. He never ceases from being hostile toward us; he is constantly accusing us before God (Job 1:9–2:7; Zechariah 3:1; Luke 22:31; Revelation 12:10). Like a roaring lion Satan is both cunning and cruel. He attacks when least expected and desires to destroy completely those whom he attacks.

Lions attack sick, young, or straggling animals; they choose victims who are alone or not alert. Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. Feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, so focused on our troubles that we forget to watch for danger, we are especially vulnerable to Satan's attacks. During times of suffering, seek other Christians for support.

Keep your eyes on Christ, and resist the devil. Then, says James, "he will flee from you" (James 4:7). We are not commanded to run, but to resist—fighting rather than fleeing. Victory comes when we remain committed to God, because He is greater than our enemy (1 John 4:4).

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11)

When we are suffering, we often feel as though our pain will never end. Peter gave these faithful Christians the wider perspective. In comparison with eternity, their suffering would last only "a little while." Some of Peter's readers would be strengthened and delivered in their own lifetimes. Others would be released from their suffering through death. All of God's faithful followers are assured of an eternal life with Christ where there will be no more suffering (Revelation 21:4).

Like a doctor setting a broken bone, God will mend our broken lives and make us whole. God will make our way stable; despite the instability we feel living in a world that inflicts suffering upon us. God will give us the ability to succeed in all that we do for Him. As a consequence of our facing the attacks of our enemy, God will build in us a firm foundation that will make us steadfast and immovable.

God is in control of all things both in this world and throughout eternity. Responding to the Word of God by saying “amen” echoes a Jewish practice of declaring that everything that had been said is true and that the hearers were committed to putting into practice that truth (Philippians 4:20).

Father God, it is my prayer today that I humble myself before you and ask your forgiveness for not coming to You with all of my worries, anxieties, and problems that come up daily while living in this sinful and troubled world. I pray Lord that I will not be too proud or full of pride when other believers you send my way offer to comfort and encourage me. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.

References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), and the Nelson Study Bible.