May 25, 2005
-
as i finish reading this (very good) book tonight (and, believe me i will read this book many more times…over and over again..) the Lord has opened my eyes to see what true humility is. not only what true humility is, but how much humility we, as Christians are lacking. i have found that once we finally find what true humility is (losing ourselves in Christ,) everything else will fall into place. missions, revival, evangelism, should be pushed aside until we are fully able to see the true light of Him and His humility. we can not make ourselves more holy, more righteous, more spirit-filled….it is only through His grace that we may humble ourselves before Him….then He will be able to work in and through us for His glory. if the Church was to preach the abundance of humility today! if the Church was to practice and live out true humilty! how our eyes would be opened…how our senseless wants and desires as Christians would pass away. oh Lord, may we lose ourselves–everything we are– in finding all that You are….for there is none like You.
“he who humbles himself will be exalted.” luke 14:11
“God gives grace to the humble…humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” james 4:6,10
“humilty is simply the sense of entire nothingness that comes when we see how truly God is everything.
humility is the secret of blessedness, the desire to be nothing, that allows God to be all in all.
humility is nothing but the simple consent of the creature to let God be all, the surrender of itself to His working alone.
humility before God is nothing if it is not proven in humility before others. the one infallible test of our holiness will be our humility before God and others. humility is the bloom and beauty of holiness.
humility is nothing but the dissapearance of self in the vision that God is all.
it is the soul that finds God to be everything that is so filled with His presence there is no place for self.
it is humility that brings a soul to be nothing before God and that also removes every hindrance to faith and makes it only fear lest it dishonor Him by not trusting Him completely.
self has nothing good in it, except as an empty vessel for God to fill. the highest glory of the creature is in being a vessel, to recieve and enjoy and show forth the glory of God. it can do this only as it is willing to be nothing in itself, that God may be everything.
in God’s presence, humility is not a posture we assume for a time-when we think of Him or pray to Him-but the very spirit of our life.
the seemingly insignificant acts of daily life are the tests of eternity, because they prove what spirit possesses us. it is in our most unguarded moments that we truly show who we are and what we are made of. to know a truly humble person, you must follow that one in the common course of daily life.
how little this is preached. how seldom it is practiced. how faintly the lack of it is felt or confessed. i cannot say how few attain to some regonizable measure of likeness to Jesus in His humility. but fewer ever think of making it a distinct object of continual desire or prayer. how little the world has seen it. how scarcely it is seen in the inner circle of the Church.
to how many of us has it been a new joy in the Christian life to know that we may yield ourselves as servants, as slaves of God, and to find that His service is our highest liberty-the freedom from sin and self?
is it any wonder that the Christian life is so often weak and fruitless, when the very root of the Christian life is neglected or unknown? is it any wonder that the joy of salvation is so little felt, when that by which Christ brings it is so seldom sought? until a humility that rests in nothings less than the end and death of self, and which gives up all the honor of man as Jesus did to seek the honor that comes from God alone (which absolutely makes and counts itself nothing) that God may be all, that the Lord alone may be exalted-until such a humility is what we seek in Christ above our chief joy, and welcome at any price, there is very little hope of a faith that will conquer the world.” ~ andrew murray
“the only hope of a decreasing self is an increasing Christ.” f.b. meyer
“God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.” martin luther
Comments (11)
Great post, Arielle!! One of my very favourite books! How I wish more people would realize this “chiefest grace of our Lord Jesus” from which flow all the other graces. His humility is the most important foundation of all that He is. From His virgin birth to a single mother, in a manger, to His death, His example to us as servant of all is breathtaking! One of my favourite thoughts on humility is “the humble person has nothing to lose and nowhere to fall.” Blessings to you!!
What an eye opener
“Humility before God is nothing if it is not proven in humility before others”
“In God’s presence, humility is not a posture we assume for a time – when we think of Him or pray to Him – but the very spirit of our life.”
“The seemingly insignificant acts of daily life are the tests of eternity, because they prove what spirit possesses us. It is in our most unguarded moments that we truly show who we are and what we are made of. To know a truly humble person, you must follow that one in the common course of daily life.”
…3 strikes! I AM OUT!!!
“I am out!” says it all. I can’t add anything to this…the words you shared just pierced my heart and showed me what needs to change in me. And as you quoted F.B. Meyer: “the only hope of a decreasing self is an increasing Christ.” That’s my only hope…
I think there is a prayer I need to pray. A precious saint sent it me: “Take me Lord. And break me Lord. Make me anew. Mold me Lord. And shape me Lord. Make me like You”
“In His presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Thank you Arielle and praise the Lord!
Can I say how wonderful it is to see you reading “Humility”. To see you comprehending it and loving it! Your maturity is beyond your years and I see the Lord has awsome plans for you! Praying for a heart of humility along with you…love you!
Great post coach, and so very true!!! I have Murray’s work on abiding in Christ; it’s a good’un too!!! Have a splenderiffic day!!!
Ezekiel 16
I feel awkward asking you this, but if you believe the Lord is leading you to financially support someone in ministry, then I could use your help.
If you believe God is leading you to do so and you are interested in potentially doing so, let me know and I will give you any information you want.
With Hope,
Cliff Bragg
Zap. That’s the sound of the Word of God hitting home.
Hello! I found your site through Edgedways. I noticed right away that we are reading the same book – Humility by Murray. Definitely some deep and right on stuff. I really enjoy reading Murray…well, correction, I find it really edifying… it’s very convicting, but in a way that I need and find challenging! I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of your site so far and look forward to more thoughts! Shalom.
I think you put my reading to shame !!!
Have you written any of your own songs?
Believe me they will !!