I heave a sigh of weary resignation at the thought of humility. The word sounds like an accusation to me: "Here is the source of your trouble. You place yourself above the Lord and reserve the right to decide what you will do and when; you are not humble."
But this quote from Andrew Murray takes us back a step to show us what must precede humility:
As you work, abide in Christ. Let a living faith in Christ working in you be the secret spring of all your work; this will inspire at once humility and courage.
-- from Abide in Christ
So...according to Murray, faith that God is at work in our hearts, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit inspires humility as well as courage. It does no good to say, "Woe is me, I need to be humble, I pray to be more humble (and don't we secretly also pray that the process of becoming more humble won't require some uncomfortable, humbling experience...)."
Instead, let us look to our faith. Do we believe that Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God, and is at work in our hearts and minds to bring about His will in our lives?
Yes, Lord!
~~~
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
--Philippians 2:12-13
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