The Path to Humility

August 10, 2007 - Friday                  

Lately, I've been noticing that I tend to forget about my weaknesses and insecurities until all of the sudden my pride is challenged. And just as suddenly I come face-to-face with that which I would rather just continue to forget.

During this week, I was faced with a prejudice that I had always ignored, or perhaps even been proud of. It wasn't racial or even social status. But it was a prejudice just the same, and it affected my attitude and thoughts toward certain people. This time, when I saw it, God made it clear that it wasn't right--I needed to let it go. I didn't want to, but I knew I needed to. I knew it was the only right thing. So I asked Him to help me--to take away my bitterness and prejudice and to help me see through His eyes rather than my own. And He did! In one afternoon!

Today I was thinking about that weakness, and about how my weaknesses affect other people, and how I don't even know my weaknesses and my insecurities until I run into a situation that brings them out--in all their ugliness. And it's so frustrating and disappointing! But I decided to pray that this weekend, God would show me the areas that He needed to work on still in my life--even if it meant sacrificing my hard-earned pride. And guess what: He answered that too! I'm not sure I can recommend that prayer as a way to complete "positive self-esteem", but I do have to say that understanding that it is God revealing my need for His power and work in my life does take some of the sting out of it. Instead of being stuck in the "never-good-enough" thought pattern, I can choose to think about God's faithfulness and be comforted by His unconditional love that won't give up on me. And to know...this is the rough but sure path to humility. To being like Jesus.

11:11 PM