Learning Humility
by Charles R. Swindoll

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. —1 Peter 5:5–6

Father, we all have hopes and aspirations. We all have dreams. And though there is nothing wrong with these, how easy it is to be driven by them. How easy it is to feel that if our dreams don't come true, we've somehow not been loved by You. We've been trained to take care of ourselves—a fine idea that has gone to seed. It's all about my stuff, my rights, my promotion, my salary, my place, my name . . . how ugly! How unchristian. We acknowledge before You that this life is not about us or our expectations.

Thank You that You never miss a person. When it's time for promotion, You won't be late. When it's time for rewards, You won't forget. So, at this awesome moment, we bow before Your mighty throne. We acknowledge that You've been good to us when we've not deserved it. You've cared for us when we've been careless. You've loved us when we've been terribly unloving, and You've met our needs when we didn't even stop to think about what we ought to be giving to You and Your work. You faithfully and graciously and constantly pour out Your good things upon us. Thank You for Your deliverance. Thank You for Your discipline.

Teach us in these tender days the value of genuine humility—of a self-forgetful life. We ask this so that we might become for You messengers whose message makes sense because our lives are like Your Son's life—the One who is gentle and humble of heart.

We pray in His name, for His glory. Amen.

See also Matthew 11:29; 16:21–26; Luke 14:11; Philippians 2:3–8.

Excerpted from The Prayers of Charles R. Swindoll, Volume 1, Copyright © 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

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