being humble

That's it. It's hard for some to be humble mainly because they think they're humble enough.

What is humility?

It is being quiet when you have something bad to say about someone.

It is literally thinking someone else is always better (without comparing yourself of course).

It is always having a modest opinion of yourself.

It's taking the blame when you knwo it's not your fault (without lying ).

It's learning to listen when people are talking about stuff you don't nessesarily think is interesting.

It is admitting to God that you really fear Him. God is the only one you should fear.

It is knowing when you have lost an argument.

Good thread.. I'll add a phrase that I've kept in mind a number of times...

Being humble is giving the glory to God for all the good that you do (for it is He who guides you), and taking responsibility for all of the negative, (for it is you who strays).

That's it. It's hard for some to be humble mainly because they think they're humble enough.

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yeah, especially difficult for them to realise, and they actually appear humble to others as well.. it can get complicated..

thanks for the sharing Heinrich, sharing is a way to grow together.

Yeah, I think pride is a difficult issue for us to overcome, and we have to keep in it check.

Has anyone read C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters"? It is about a demon who is assigned to a Christian, and he reports to a higher demon on how he is attacking the Christian’s walk. The demon assigned to the Christian is told that a good way to pull down the Christians walk with the Lord is making him prideful. So the demon pushes the Christian towards pride. The Christian later comes to humility, and the demon asks his superior what he should do now. The demon is told to now make the Christian PROUD that he is HUMBLE. Wow! Does that ever hit home!? How many of us have thought of how humble we were and start gaining pride in that!?

Oh yes, mbams, I have read "The Screwtape Letters" by C. S. Lewis! (mind you, I'm not proud about it, I read it about 30 years later than I wish I had...there's a lot in that book that would have helped me in my Christian walk earlier in life...he wrote another book I just read called "Mere Christianity" which I think is also excellent).

Two things Lewis said about humility:

1) if you wonder if you're proud ask how annoyed you get when you're in a room with proud people. If stuck-up people really get to you, then you're proud (by the way, I fail this test so I am proud...sad to say). A humble person, he says, doesn't care how many proud people are in the room with him or her.

2) the one kind of humility to avoid is the kind that says you're too poorly made a creature to amount to much in God's kingdom (that with the Lord's help you may overcome the stubborn sins in your life, but you'll never be a saint or anything). Jesus wants all of you in order to make you into a new creature in Him.

WeakButHopeful said:

the one kind of humility to avoid is the kind that says you're too poorly made a creature to amount to much in God's kingdom (that with the Lord's help you may overcome the stubborn sins in your life, but you'll never be a saint or anything). Jesus wants all of you in order to make you into a new creature in Him.

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thank you for that! That is just the encouragment I needed today! Praise God!!!

IMO the best way to gain true humility is to spend time in the Lord's presence.

Moses was called the meekest man on the face of the earth. Why? Because God spoke to him face to face. No wonder he was humble!

Isaiah cried out "Woe is me! I am undone" when confronted with the presence of the Lord.

Even impetuous Peter cried "Lord depart from me a sinner!"

I am absolutely convinced that when in the presence of our Lord, our pride is exposed for what it is: vile and, I believe, the most offensive sin man can commit. No human can retain pride in His presence.

The other side of that is in His presence, His incredible love for us in spite of all of our sin is utterly humbling.

I was just at a retreat where we talked about pride. We had a communion service that included a washing of the feet part. I had never been a part of one, so I didn't know what to expect. But when my pastor kneeled in front of me and asked me if he could wash my feet, I have never felt so humbled. To have someone who I respect so much, my teacher, washing my feet was an experience I will never forget. As I was thinking about that, I thought how must have Peter and the other disciples have felt with the Savior washing their feet? Pride is something I struggle with a lot. I was grateful to be humbled like I was.