Friday, February 18, 2011

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.

24 comments:

Mari Nuñez said...

As always Lloyd great post! It nice to be a humble person, but more important to be humble in God's presence and recognize we can't do anything without him.

Thanks for this post. Have a great weekend :)

Clint said...

Excellent, Lloyd. I love your blog. Thanks!

Donald Fishgrab said...

The world's view is that if you don't have pride you don't have anything. James tells us that God resists the proud. I don't need his opposition.

Great post.

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

Well said my friend and thank you.
Blessings,
Bren

PJ said...

Hi There! We must always remember when we seek praise or rewards for our deeds here on earth, then that is our reward. We won't receive one in heaven. (paraphrased). I have trouble expressing myself and remembering exact verses.
Wonderful Blog!

God Bless,

PJ

Anonymous said...

What a great reminder! Too often when we are suffering we forget that it is temporary and that God is still there. WE need to humbly remember that God wants to help and that He cares.

Jamie said...

I needed to read this today. Thank you. Excellent post!

Ellen Lundberg said...

It was a good post. there are many who feel anxiety in his heart, sadly.
but if ma pray that Jesus will remove the fear and watch it disappear! : D

feel free to comment on my blog:) Have a nice weekend! God bless you

Karen Kyle Ericson said...

This is a great post! Very encouraging. Thank you :)

MTJ said...

Hi Lloyd,

Thank you brother for sharing these encouraging words on trust and humility. I particularly liked your description of a lion's prey. Like a lion, satan seeks out the ones who are isolated, weak, and helpless. You are right brother, we are not alone or comfortless.

It is good to seek not only God, but other believers for support and encouragement. The command to resist the devil is for our spiritual benefit; we must learn the value in standing our ground against spiritual attacks.

Blessings and peace.

MTJ

Gorges Smythe said...

WOW! You said a mouthful, brother!

Amber said...

Thank you, I needed that today!

Jan Samuel said...

Hey Brother!
Thank you for visiting my blog.
I have read your blog, and it was a great blessing!
Your last post was also very good.
I was so blessed when I read it. Hallelujah!
Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
God bless you and your family Brother.AMEN!

Jesus reminds me of some verses to you now.
Isaiah 43 verses 18-19
Jeremiah 32 verse 17
Zechariah 10 verse 12

Forgive my bad English

Greetings from
Jan Samuel
from Norway.

Lori Heyd said...

Amen bro.....humility is not valued much in our world, but matters greatly in the Kingdom of God. It is something I have to remind myself to work toward more and more....Lori

reflectionsofme said...

Thank you so much for writing this post, it was exactly what I needed. God bless you and continue to lift you up.

Unknown said...

Very good post. Not comfortable to the flesh, but comforting to the spirit.

Suely Rezende - Ministério HD said...

Hi Lloyd, Querido irmĂŁo!!!

Graça e paz!!!

Fiquei MUITO, MUITO feliz com sua presença em meu blog e seu comentário.

Volte sempre!!!!

Salmos, 31:24 - Sede fortes, e revigore-se o vosso coração, vós todos que esperais no Senhor.

Deus abençoe sua vida,

beijos
Suely

Ian Curtis said...

Excellent reminder! But as you say, let it be more than a mere reminder; instead let it be something we employ daily and walk humbly before our God. God knows, however, that humility is hard. I won't lie and say it comes naturally to me. It is either something the Holy Spirit produces in me or it's my flesh playing at humility so everyone can applaud at how humble I am.
Thanks for the encouragement, brother. I love coming to visit.

Anonymous said...

Nice! =D

Brian said...

What an encouragement your blog is to whom ever comes across it. Thanks for visiting my blog, and may God richless Bless you.

Geoff Maritz said...

Hiya Lloyd, have you ever felt that God could never forgive you? I suppose that feelings like those are a form of pride too. I sometimes feel like that but have to admit in thinking thus I'm really deciding for God what He can do and what He can't. Just accepting that He could love me and forgive me gives me the strength to submit, even if only untill I rebel again. Stupid isn't it. Thanks for this post, you have helped me again today.

Solid Rock or Sinking Sand said...

Mari - Thank you so much for your visit and encouraging comments. I have learned over the years that being humble is not the same as being weak... We are always in God's presence and it is as you say, "...we can't do anything without him." Blessings my friend.

Clint - I always enjoy your visits here. Your comments are such a blessing to me. God bless, Lloyd

dfish - Amen brother... Isn't it just so amazing that the closer you get to our Lord and Savior, world views seem to become less and less important. God bless.

Grace - Thank you for your visit and kind comments. God bless you.

PJ - Thank you for your visit and words of wisdom. It is a profound truth that you have spoken. Jesus made it clear when He told us not to let the right hand know what the left hand it doing. We do good works because we love the Lord. Bless you my sister in Christ.

GOD thinker - I always enjoy your visits and encouraging comments. It is so nice to know that whatever happens to us, whether good or bad... God will never leave nor forsaken us. God bless.

Redeemed1, Jamie, Karen, Gorges, Amber, reflectionsofme, Debbie, Suely, andre, and Brian - I want to thank each of you personally for your visit and kind comments. I am humbled that you were each blessed by this post. God bless, Lloyd

bibelaventyr - Thank you for our visit and encouraging comments. You are right when you say that prayer to our Lord Jesus will remove the fear and anxiety in our hearts. Bless you my friend.

MTJ - I am always encouraged by your visits and comments you leave on my blog. The closer we get to God the more frequent the attacks come from the devil. Satan does not want us to have a close relationship with the Lord. Praise be it to God that when Satan attacks us all we need to do is to say "get behind me Satan!" and allow the Word of God to drive him away. Blessings my friend in Christ.

Jan Samuel - Thank you for your visit. I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog too. Thank you for your encouraging comments. I am so happy that this post was a blessing too you. I also enjoyed reading the scriptures you have quoted. God bless.

Lori - Humility is a sign of weakness in the eyes of the world. However, in God's eyes, we must humble ourselves before Him to receive His blessings. We all need to remind ourselves to be humble when living out our lives as a Christian. God bless, Lloyd

Ian Curtis - I always enjoy your visits and comments. It seems like I have known you personally even though it has been only through our blog ministries. Humility is not a natural trait for anyone. It is a trait that is learned when we are first saved... then it continues to grow as we become stronger in our faith in our Lord and Savior. The more we become like Jesus, the more humble we are in our everyday lives. I would have to say Ian that it is the Holy Spirit working in you that makes you humble and not the workings of the flesh. God bless, Lloyd

Geoff - Thank you for the visit. I think that all of us have had the devil attempt to draw us away from God by making us feel that we were not worthy of being forgiven by Him. But like you said, "...I'm really deciding for God what He can do and what He can't." Who are we to tell the Creator what to do? We cannot let Satan get a foothold into our lives. When I start to feel that I am drifting away from God, I pick up my Bible and begin to read all of the promises that our Lord had made to me. There are so many scriptures that tell us that we are secured in our salvation and when God makes a promise, He will always keep it. God bless you my brother in Christ.

Ken said...

I pray with you on this. Worry tends to be an area of weekness for me. God bless you

Oz said...

Being humble is not possible in the flesh, we need to be submitted to His Spirit. I confess, I have been expecting recognition from men, and, to be honest, it has been, it still is hard. Thanks for posting in my blog amd thanks so much for your meditation. It really belssed me.
Ozzy