December 10th
“1Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:1-10 NKJV
Humility is a key in successful spiritual warfare. In fact, it is essential for victory. In order to prevail over the forces of evil, we must have God’s help and favor. If pride has a foothold in our lives, it will hinder our relationship with God.
Putting humility into practice is the challenging part, because pride of life often infiltrates many areas of our life. Here are some conclusions I have drawn from the passage about how to humble ourselves before the Lord:
- Humbling ourselves is our responsibility
- Humility involves submitting our requests and desires for things to God, ensuring we are asking for the right motives (not for lusting and coveting).
- Humility involves resisting the temptation to look to the world or our own abilities for fulfillment of our desires. It requires our unwavering trust and patience with God for our provision.
- A submitted life to God is a prerequisite for successful resistance against the devil.
- Humility involves drawing near to God with a repentant heart. It realizes the true nature of our sin. Mourning our sin is an appropriate response.
- Humility before the Lord will be followed by a “divine uplifting”
Practicing humility in these ways is not easy. Human nature is to look for ways to satisfy our desires and work things out apart from God. When we submit ourselves to God, our relationship with God will flourish and the devil will be on the run from us on a daily basis.
Questions for further thought:
When we’re submitted to God, who has jurisdiction over our flesh’s desires? (Romans 8:9)
In what ways have you allowed “friendship with the world” to corrupt or hinder your living for God?
What primary sin is at the root of all sin? (6)
What fears make waiting on God difficult for us to do?
What is the truth about those fears?
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving me so much that you sent your Son Jesus to die so that I might have abundant life both now and for eternity. I see my need for humility and desire to put into practice. Please forgive me for the arrogance of my ways when I have not sought and/or waited on you for guidance and provision. Please forgive me for any self-reliance I’ve practiced, especially when I’ve grown impatient in waiting for your answers to my prayers. Please forgive me for allowing my love of the things of the world such as money, sex and power to corrupt my love for you. Thank you for the forgiveness that I have through the blood of Jesus! I reaffirm today that my life is in your hands and that I am a vessel for your purposes. Please lead me by the Holy Spirit and fill me afresh with your passion for holiness and your love for people. I praise you now and forever, Amen.”