Day 9: Under God’s Mighty Hand
Bible passage: 1 Peter 5:5–7; Matthew 23:12
The Way Up Is Down
Today is Saturday 9th of January 2021. Welcome to Day 9 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Yesterday we looked at our words. Today we look at the attitude behind them.
Peter tells us to humble ourselves under the mighty power of God, and he adds a promise: “at the right time he will lift you up in honour.” 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT)
Peter had learned this the hard way. He once boasted that he would never let Jesus down, and within hours he had denied even knowing Him. Jesus restored him. Now, as an older man, Peter passes on what he learned.
What Humility Is
Something We Choose
Peter does not tell us to wait until life humbles us. He tells us to humble ourselves. In the verse before, he tells us to dress ourselves in humility (1 Peter 5:5). Clothes do not jump onto us. We put them on, deliberately, every day.
The reason he gives is sobering. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Seeing Clearly
Humility does not mean running yourself down. It means seeing clearly. Everything I have, I was given. Pride keeps the credit. Humility passes it on, to God and to the people who helped.
Success can be a more dangerous test than failure. When things go well it is easy to forget who made it possible. Jesus told one church to look at how far they had fallen, to turn back and to do the things they did at first (Revelation 2:5).
Handing Over Your Worries
The next verse tells us to give all our worries and cares to God, because He cares about us (1 Peter 5:7). The two verses belong together. Worry can be a quiet form of pride. It insists on carrying what only God can carry. Humility says, “I cannot manage this, but You can.”
At the Right Time
God does lift up the humble, but at the right time, and that is His to decide. Jesus said that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). We can leave our reputation in His hands.
Bowing Low
Three Steps for Today
Kneel. If you are able to, pray on your knees today. The posture of the body can help the posture of the heart.
Give the credit away. Thank God for one thing that has gone well, and then thank a person who helped to make it happen.
Hand over one care. Name the worry that you keep picking up. Give it to God. Each time it returns today, give it to Him again.
Do not be put off if relief does not come at once. God is never late, and He gives grace to the humble.
Prayer for Today:
Lord, I bow before You. You are mighty and I am not. Forgive me for the pride that takes the credit and the pride that tries to carry everything alone. I put on humility today. I give You my worries, because You care for me. Lift me up in Your way and in Your time, and make me gentle with the people around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep going
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