Bible verses about humility

Grace for the humble

James begins chapter 4 with quarrels and the desires that fight within a person. Into that he says that God gives more grace, and quotes that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Verse 10 says to humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. Peter says almost the same in 1 Peter 5:5-6. Believers should clothe themselves with humility toward one another and humble themselves under God's mighty hand, so that he may exalt them in due time. In both, the lifting is God's work and comes in his time.

Pride and the fall

Proverbs 11:2 says that when pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 16:18 says pride goes before destruction and an arrogant spirit before a fall. Proverbs 29:23 says a man's pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor. These are sayings about patterns.

In this struggle, pride can sound like I do not need a filter or a friend, or I am past this. Proverbs says that thought tends to come before the fall. Humility keeps the guard up.

The mind of Christ

Paul tells the Philippians to do nothing through rivalry or conceit, but in humility to count others better than themselves, each looking also to the things of others. Then he points to Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, took the form of a servant and humbled himself to the death of the cross. Humility here is strength spent on others.

In Matthew 18:3-4 Jesus tells his disciples that unless they turn and become like little children they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and whoever humbles himself as a child is the greatest. Children ask for help easily, which is a good picture for prayer.

Walking humbly

Micah 6:8 sums up what the LORD requires: to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. The word walk suggests a daily habit and not one dramatic act. Psalm 25:9 says he will guide the humble in justice and teach the humble his way. Luke 14:11 repeats a saying of Jesus: everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

In daily life humility looks like telling the truth about a fall, asking for help early and accepting correction.

• Tell one person the truth about your week, in plain words.
• In Renounce, I need to return logs a fall and starts the next clean day, so the honest step is one tap and not a speech.

A prayer for humility

Lord, you resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Make me honest about my weakness and unafraid to ask for help. Keep me from thinking I am past temptation. Lift me in your time, and teach me to walk humbly with you. Amen.