Humility

Be humbled by God's power so that when the right time comes God will honor you.  Turn all your anxiety over to God because God cares for you. Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.  Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering.  -- 1 Peter 5:6-9 (God's Word¹)

Humility is the virtue that is halfway between the twin sins of pride and being a doormat.  Humility is knowing whose you are, knowing who holds the power in your life, and respecting that.  "Be humbled by God's power;" know you are God's beloved, honored by God.  Turn all your worries over and stay on your guard.  The sinful slopes are slippery and it is part of human frailty easily to slide from the virtuous into the cold choppy waters of sinfulness (i.e. separation from God) where worries invade and conquer.  Without careful tending of our attitudes and spirits we can slip into haughtiness -- thinking since we are God's children, that we are superior to others (not even needing God); or slip into woe-begotten worm-hood -- feeling so inferior and unworthy so as not even to be able to pray.  The devil, the thought-source that maligns balance, decency, and level-headed thinking is stalking you.  Be firm in faith and hold tight to the respect you hold for God's power in all things.  People the world over are going through all kinds of suffering -- many far worse than you are, yet they are holding tight.  Do likewise.  Rest in humility and trust the outcome in all things to God.  

Prayer:
Help me, O God, to set aside my self-centered preoccupations with myself, to surrender my worries, and truly to rest in you.  Amen.


¹Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.