“…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

A humble posture before the Lord looks like kneeling physically or it looks like going low by way of setting aside pride and ego to acknowledge God’s grandness and majesty. We see Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen and learn because she chose the better way. In my not-so-humble mindset, I usually grit my teeth or buck up my own wisdom. That seems like my “better way” until I fall short in stress and in loss of direction thus turning to junky sin patterns that cause me to spin out. How is this really the better way? It’s not!

“…but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

Mary, in her posture of going low, finds that Jesus meets her with perfect wisdom, love, mercy, peace, and more. In God’s perfect original design, we were not created to go at life apart from our Creator. It’s pride that tells us we have the answers, that we are the plan A, that we create our own destiny. How far does that take us before we crash and burn out? 

Our human-limited capacity only takes us so far. Why in the world are we not taking this humble posture before God Himself who carries the perfect blueprint of our life and His plan for creation?

When Jesus claimed that Mary chose the better way, He highlighted the act of setting aside all else for the sake of sitting in His presence and seeking His voice. Pride might tell us we are wasting time in those quiet, still but seemingly unproductive moments. Humility, though, strips away our puffed up ideas and behaviors to make space for Jesus to speak straight to every dry and weary place in our soul. Really, this dry and weariness is a symptom of our need for the refreshment and nourishment that only the love of God can heal and deliver. 

The definition of humble (humility) means to be subdued or subjected to. It also means to come under the authority of someone. By investing our heart, soul, mind, strength in what Jesus says is His better way, we see it is a good and worthy investment. Humility positions us to step out of ourselves and step into the beauty of that which is eternal and long lasting. I don’t know about you, but when I make life all about me, I get sick of myself pretty quickly. I come to the end of myself and then what? What answers can I provide? What way is best? What power do I tap into? What time is best spent? The most pure and lasting answer to these questions is found in the act of coming under the authority of our loving Father and His Word. 

Money, success, purchases at our favorite online shop, likes and hearts are not our God. Marriage, engagements, Insta perfect profiles are not our God. Career, passion, dreams, vision are not our God. Family, children, friendships are not our God. Religion is not our God. Again, how fast do these idols erect leave us high and dry because we have bowed down to them? All the while the one true God is just waiting for us to come sit in love and peace like Mary did.

Jesus is offering the better way.

In the act of going low in humility we are positioned to rise up in dignity and worth because the One we follow is full of the glory the world won’t even begin to offer us. 

Prayer Points:

~Lord, I come before You setting aside my pride…

~Show me where my knowledge and wisdom fall way short…

~Show me the idols I have put on a pedestal and above my affection for You alone…

~Forgive me, Lord! I lay aside whatever keeps me from Your fullness…