James 4 cont’d:
Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives
grace to the humble. Submit
therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Remember the grace we talked about yesterday…the
greater grace he gives? He gives it to
the humble.
Humility is not weakness. Humility is surrendering to the will and word
of God in our lives.
When we pray or come to God out of our own pride,
asking for things to build us up and makes us “strong” in finances, health, and
wisdom – all for the sake of making our mark on the world – this can often lead
to ruin and heavy burdens we cannot carry.
When we pray in humility, asking and believing
for all that we need, but asking and believing for God’s will to be done, his
love to be shown, and his ways to be evident in our character, we receive
grace.
Grace is a necessary commodity in order to live
in this world. We need God to grace us
with his presence, as well as to provide us grace to face whatever comes our
way…or whatever people cross our paths.
When we humbly submit to God, turn from our own
lusts and envy, it says the enemy will flee from us.
He’s not just going to back away slowly, glaring
at us. He won’t just hide in the corner
until we’re not looking again. He will
actually turn and run!
Isn’t that a cool picture? He gets afraid when we are humble.
Lord, grant us grace to be humble when we come to
you asking for those things we think we need.
And may we listen to your Holy Spirit when we do ask, by submitting to
your desires and thoughts for others.
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