How many times have we seen people promoted while we felt we deserved the promotion instead? I know it happened to me more than once and it's not easy to deal with.

Whether in the workplace, in ministry, in clubs and organizations, or in the church, promotion comes from God. Any attempt to promote ourselves is counterproductive to the will and plan of God in our lives and will likely end in failure or, at the very least, become burdensome and less than fulfilling. He calls us to be humble and to allow Him the privilege of promoting us according to His plan and purpose so He might be glorified through our skillful and anointed work.

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6)

Humility is reducing oneself to lower circumstances. Humility presents itself as behaving in an unassuming manner devoid of all haughtiness. And, humility accepts less even when more is deserved!

Consider some definitions of the word "humble":

1. Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.
   
2. Showing deferential or submissive respect.
   
3. Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly.
   
4. To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humiliate.
   
5. To make humble or lowly in mind; to abase the pride or arrogance of; to reduce the self-sufficiently of; to make meek and submissive.
   
6. To abase; lower; depress; humiliate; mortify; disgrace; degrade.
   
7. Thinking lowly of one's self; claiming little for one's self; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; thinking one's self ill-deserving or unworthy, when judged by the demands of God; lowly; weak; modest.
   

With an honest time of self-examination, how many of these definitions of "humble" do others see in your life? Don't be surprised if you find yourself lacking some of these qualities in your life. Don't be surprised if you feel the Holy Spirit shining His spotlight on some issues in your heart even now as you read this.

To be Christ-like is to be humble; the result of humility is in God's very capable hands and it will be realized in the hearts of those who have learned true humility.

"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:12)

Lord, my desire is to be a humble servant, willing to accept any circumstance I may find myself in. My flesh is weak but, Lord, my spirit is willing to seek after humility. Help me, teach me, lead me, Oh Father, in the way that is most pleasing to you, regardless of the cost to me personally. Help me to submit my heart to You; do Your perfect work within me and be glorified. Amen!

© Jan Ross
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