How Do We Humble Ourselves Before God?

"6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

I have heard from many people the importance of standing humbly before God.

What does that mean? How do we humble ourselves?

Do we think badly of ourselves? Do we exploit and manifest our weaknesses?

All of this still brings the attention back to ourselves. How is that humble?

Let's start with a dictionary definition of "humble":

1. having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.

2. of low social, administrative, or political rank.

The truth is, none of us can claim to have any kind of rank before our Creator:

"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth." (Psalm 103:15)

In fact, Peter uotes this passage in his First Letter:

For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall," (1 Peter 1:24)

If nothing else, humility is a recognition of the fact that without Him, we are nothing:

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:4)

and

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)

The problem for many Christians, however, is that we have to play up a role of humility. If we understand that we are dead without Him, that apart from Him we have nothing, then there is no reason for us to play up a role or a part.

But specifically, I want to draw from Peter's statement to the church in the verse listed above.

We humble ourselves when we cast all our cares on Him--and we keep casting our cares on God, our loving Father.

The moment that we think we can--or that we must--take care of our cares, that is the height of arrogance.

You want to humble yourself before? Acknowledge that you can do nothing without Him, and let Him handle whatever challenge you are facing:

"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

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