Humility Is a Choice

In review of 1 Peter 5:6, Peter reminds me, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” (NLT)

I often worry about my position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what I do. However Peter advises me to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. God is able and willing to bless me according to his timing. So I need to humbly obey God regardless of my present circumstances or situation, and in his good timing, either in this life or in the next, he will honor me.

When I’m successful, it’s much easier to fall hard than it is to maintain my success. I tend to get proud and forget about God, and success crumbles when I do that.

In this situation, the first step to take is absolutely critical. The Bible says, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you” (Revelation 2:5 NIV).

If I’m getting proud, I must repent. That means I change my mind. I go from thinking one way about my life to thinking another way. But why repent? Because humility is a choice. I’m never told in Scripture to pray for God to make me humble. It’s something I choose for myself.

The Bible says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT).

There’s a difference between pride and humility: Pride is when I accept credit for things that God and other people did through me and for me. Humility doesn’t mean thinking of myself less. Humility means thinking of others and God more.

If I’ve experienced some success and am beginning to get prideful, then repent, now! Change my perspective about who I am and where my success comes from. The Bible says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12 NIV).

In summary, I need to humble myself under the mighty power of God. For at the right time he will lift me up. I often worry about my position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what I do. However Peter advises me to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. So I need to choose to humbly obey God regardless of my present circumstances or situation, and in his good timing, either in this life or in the next, he will honor me. If I start to get proud, I must repent. Humility is a choice. I’m never told in Scripture to pray for God to make me humble. It’s something I choose for myself. There’s a difference between pride and humility: Pride is when I accept credit for things that God and other people did through me and for me. Humility means thinking of others and God more. If I’ve experienced some success and am beginning to get prideful, then repent, now! Change my perspective about who I am and where my success comes from.

Making the choice to be humble, even in the smallest ways, helps ingrain in me the perspective that I must keep. My role at work has undergone some changes, ones that had somewhat changed my position and status. I believe this occurred as God was alleviating some of the stress related to the job and responsibilities. However my mind tends to look at it somewhat negatively which is just addressing and I now see as a warning sign for pride. 

Father, this morning I recognize that humility is a choice I need to make constantly. I also need to make sure that I give credit to others for our success. I pray with the help of the Holy Spirit that I can recognize this when it occurs and make the conscious choice toward being humble. I pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.