The Best: Part 1Sample

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess that I often try to do things all on my own and neglect to come to you for help. Thank you for rescuing me and granting me access to your wisdom and grace! Thank you for sending Jesus, who is the perfect example of humility. I pray you would make me more like Jesus today!

Humility Brings Wisdom

Why is it so hard for so many of us to ask for help? Why is it so difficult for us to admit that we don’t know everything? Why do we work so hard to present ourselves as more ready, knowledgeable, and capable than we really are? Why do we tell people that we’re okay when we’re not?

Sin is the reason behind all of our self-reliant and self-sufficient tendencies. We trust in our own way and rely on our own understanding and strength. But this is not how we were created to live. We were designed to live in complete dependence on God, our Creator! Bad things happen when we deny our need for God and for others. Pride always leads to death and disgrace in some kind of way, but humility brings great wisdom.

The apostle Peter said, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…” (1 Peter 5:5). God is the source of all true wisdom. When we humbly submit ourselves to God, and acknowledge our deep need for help, we open ourselves up to receive his grace and wisdom. Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we have constant access to the God of all wisdom. So don’t resist. Humbly reach out for help to the One who has everything we need!

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. In what area of my life do I find it most difficult to ask for help? Why?
2. When have I seen my pride bring disgrace in my life? How would the situation have been different if I acted out of humility instead?

What’s Next? 

1. Spend some extended time in prayer today. Ask God to bring to mind ways where your pride gets in the way of gaining true wisdom. Confess your sins to him and receive his grace and forgiveness!
2. Tim Keller once described humility as “self-forgetfulness”. Brainstorm some ways you can think of others more today and put into practice acts of humility! You might be surprised at how refreshing it is.