If you need to be blessed by God, humble yourself. He blesses the humble—but not the proud.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” Luke 14:11.
Consider the prodigal son—he failed, but he did not fail at repentance. And the father killed the fatted calf for him, Luke 15:11-32.
Later Jesus tells the story of two men praying. The Pharisee says, “Thank you, God, that I am not like so-and-so.” The tax collector, on the other hand, falls to his knees, pounds his chest, and cries, “Oh, God! Be merciful to me! I am such a sinner!” And Jesus asks, “Which one went home blessed?” Luke 18:9-14.
Of course, God blessed the one who was humble. First Peter says “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” 1 Peter 5:5 (and James 4:6).
Don’t you want God’s grace? Don’t you know how badly you need it?
Beg God for His grace. Beg Him to make you more humble. Use body language. Get on your knees, pound your chest. Humble yourself and ask God to make your heart truly humble. Sometimes you feel proud, pleased, and self-satisfied. And those are great times. But ask God to make you humble, to help you pray like the tax collector. Pray for humility and ask for God’s blessings. Ask Him to fill you with a humble heart toward Him and toward His people.
Read Luke 14.
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*The drawing above is Rembrandt’s sketch of the Return of the Prodigal.
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