I think one reason I appreciate Humility: True Greatness so much is because Mahaney doesn't just talk about the need for humility and the evil of pride. He recognizes the need for purposeful application and shares practical ways we can pursue humility and accept God's transformation in our lives. The rest of the book contains suggestions for how we can cultivate humility and weaken pride. His first several tips revolve around lifestyle changes and new routines--how we begin and end each day.
Tip #1: Reflect on the wonder of the cross
How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross? "Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, 'I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.' Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size" (67).
Tip #2: Begin your day acknowledging your need for God
Begin your day with "an expression of your dependence on God, your need for God, and your confidence in God." He reminds us that sin is active, not passive, and as soon as we wake up sin is ready to attack. Thus we have to begin our day by taking control of our thoughts and turning them over to God instead of mentally listing what we have to get done today or groaning over mistakes we made yesterday. When we realize and confess how much we need Him, we are less likely to be prideful and arrogant throughout the day.
Tip #3: Begin your day expressing gratitude to God
"Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow" (70). Watch for answered prayers and be thankful for them. Be observant and notice the manifestations of God's grace that take place throughout the day. If we are aware and appreciative of God's provision, we are more ready for humility.
Tip #4: Begin your day with prayer, study of God's Word, and worship.
"It's possible to charge into the day motivated by self-sufficiency, but the very act of opening my Bible to read and turning my heart and mind to prayer makes a statement that I need God" (72).
Tip #5: Begin your day by seizing the mundane moments for memorization of and meditation on Scripture
Speak the truth of God to yourself rather than listening to yourself during the routine moments of a day (for example, a commute to work).
Tip #6: Begin your day by casting your cares on Him.
"Where there's worry, where there's anxiousness, PRIDE is at the root of it. When I am experiencing anxiety, the root issue is that I'm trying to be self-sufficient" (75). Instead, start your day free of care by casting all your cares on the Lord so you will have joy and peace. I Peter 5:6-7--Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you.
Mahaney notes that many of us are in the habit of some of these morning routines, but "few of us have thought biblically and strategically about how to glorify God at the end of the day--even though the way we end today can clearly affect the way we encounter tomorrow" (79), so he shares two tips for ending for cultivating humility by the way we end our days.
Tip #7: End your day by reviewing it and carefully assigning all glory to God for the grace you've experienced that day.
Instead of going to bed thinking about all we have to do tomorrow, or even reflecting on the blessings of the day without giving thanksgiving and glory to God, we should intentionally transfer all glory to God for each success and gift of the day.
Tip #8: End your day by receiving the gift of sleep from God.
I thought this was especially interesting as I've never before thought about the fact that because I am the creation, I am limited in my energy which is renewed by the gift of sleep each night. "Each night, as I confront my need again for sleep, I'm reminded that I'm a dependent creature. I am not self-sufficient. I am not the Creator. There is only One who 'will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4)' and I am not that One" (84).
These eight tips toward cultivating humility inspire me because they are attainable. I can see how they lend themselves toward humility and cut down on pride, but I'm not overwhelmed about them being 'too hard' to do. I really appreciate the way Maheney takes this huge task (weaken pride and cultivate humility) and breaks it down into bite-sized pieces to help us grow in humility.
Does anyone care to join me in applying these eight tips throughout this next week? And I'll try to be diligent in adding the next few tips next Wednesday.
God gives grace to the humble.--James 4:6
Tip #1: Reflect on the wonder of the cross
How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross? "Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, 'I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.' Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size" (67).
Tip #2: Begin your day acknowledging your need for God
Begin your day with "an expression of your dependence on God, your need for God, and your confidence in God." He reminds us that sin is active, not passive, and as soon as we wake up sin is ready to attack. Thus we have to begin our day by taking control of our thoughts and turning them over to God instead of mentally listing what we have to get done today or groaning over mistakes we made yesterday. When we realize and confess how much we need Him, we are less likely to be prideful and arrogant throughout the day.
Tip #3: Begin your day expressing gratitude to God
"Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow" (70). Watch for answered prayers and be thankful for them. Be observant and notice the manifestations of God's grace that take place throughout the day. If we are aware and appreciative of God's provision, we are more ready for humility.
Tip #4: Begin your day with prayer, study of God's Word, and worship.
"It's possible to charge into the day motivated by self-sufficiency, but the very act of opening my Bible to read and turning my heart and mind to prayer makes a statement that I need God" (72).
Tip #5: Begin your day by seizing the mundane moments for memorization of and meditation on Scripture
Speak the truth of God to yourself rather than listening to yourself during the routine moments of a day (for example, a commute to work).
Tip #6: Begin your day by casting your cares on Him.
"Where there's worry, where there's anxiousness, PRIDE is at the root of it. When I am experiencing anxiety, the root issue is that I'm trying to be self-sufficient" (75). Instead, start your day free of care by casting all your cares on the Lord so you will have joy and peace. I Peter 5:6-7--Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you.
Mahaney notes that many of us are in the habit of some of these morning routines, but "few of us have thought biblically and strategically about how to glorify God at the end of the day--even though the way we end today can clearly affect the way we encounter tomorrow" (79), so he shares two tips for ending for cultivating humility by the way we end our days.
Tip #7: End your day by reviewing it and carefully assigning all glory to God for the grace you've experienced that day.
Instead of going to bed thinking about all we have to do tomorrow, or even reflecting on the blessings of the day without giving thanksgiving and glory to God, we should intentionally transfer all glory to God for each success and gift of the day.
Tip #8: End your day by receiving the gift of sleep from God.
I thought this was especially interesting as I've never before thought about the fact that because I am the creation, I am limited in my energy which is renewed by the gift of sleep each night. "Each night, as I confront my need again for sleep, I'm reminded that I'm a dependent creature. I am not self-sufficient. I am not the Creator. There is only One who 'will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4)' and I am not that One" (84).
These eight tips toward cultivating humility inspire me because they are attainable. I can see how they lend themselves toward humility and cut down on pride, but I'm not overwhelmed about them being 'too hard' to do. I really appreciate the way Maheney takes this huge task (weaken pride and cultivate humility) and breaks it down into bite-sized pieces to help us grow in humility.
Does anyone care to join me in applying these eight tips throughout this next week? And I'll try to be diligent in adding the next few tips next Wednesday.
God gives grace to the humble.--James 4:6
really like this, especially the sleep part. not just b/c I'm tired right now, but b/c it's helped me remember that going to bed at an appropriate time isn't LAZY, it's accepting God's gift of refueling so I can live tomorrow for him all over again!
ReplyDeleteWow, two hit me specifically hard. I NEVER thought of anxiety that way (depending on our selves/being self-sufficient). I also never thought of sleep that way either, as another way we are not only depending on Him, but accepting the gift of rejuvenation. Hmmmm, I will be reevaluating my thoughts this week. Man, this has really been a growing month.
ReplyDeleteI would love to join you in applying these tips. They appear to be beneficial in cultivating humility, and this is one area I think most Christians have a problem in, including myself.
ReplyDeleteI have been using #4 and #5 for a while now. It is amazing the difference it has made in day-to-day living.
I have really enjoyed Wednesday Wonderings since you began. I am lookig forward to next week's post!