humility. not even a capital letter for the word.

1 Peter 5:5 

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34: 

He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed; The Lord sneers at those who sneer at him, but he is kind to everyone who is humble; He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help.

v.35 Wise living gets rewarded with honour; stupid living gets the booby prize. What is wise living? In this context, it seems to be living humbly. Perhaps what Andy Stanley talks about when he asks: In the light of your past experiences, your present circumstances and your future hopes and dreams...what is the WISE thing to do?

Clothe myself with humility. Humility is not my natural state and so I need to acquire and wear it. I can't wait for someone else to give it to me, either as a new present or as one of their cast-offs; no, I need to buy it. And second-hand garments of humility won't do, either: I have to buy new and, sometimes, expensively. Humility can be very, very costly.

So how do I shop for humility? 

God is in control

1 Peter 5:10 - 11 But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.
God will be in control forever! Amen.

Thinking this morning about Joseph, and how God used his sufferings for great good. How he learned forgiveness and humility; living an upright life.

Difficult to learn without suffering.

My prayer is that I accept the 'suffering' I go through (which is not much, really: just loss of pride and reputation; loss of friendships and relationships; loss of confidence...) rather than trying to control my circumstances to suit myself.

And perhaps I can begin to pray Jennie Allen's prayer 'anything':

Anything. God. Anything.
And in that one little word we turned in everything for God’s anything.
Every dream for our lives.
Every dollar and possession.
Every safety and comfort.
Every person’s approval.
Every ambition.
Everything.

And we opened our entire lives up to anything God had for us.
Any risk.
Any country.
Any act of obedience.
Any dream God had for us.
Anything.

And Christine Caine: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. — Psalm 147:3

I had to tackle many challenges from my past in order to step into my God-given destiny. I was left in a hospital unnamed and unwanted when I was born and am living proof that no matter how you start in life, you can take charge of your life and run to win. We do not need to live like victims; rather we can appropriate the truth of the Word of God in every area of our lives and experience complete healing and wholeness.

If I had not allowed God’s Word to bring healing into my life, I would not be fulfilling my destiny now. Despite having the God-given gifts and talents that I needed, I was so weak emotionally that my soul would not allow me to go where my gifts could take me. It was crucial that I dealt with all the areas of brokenness in my heart.

Our inner world totally affects our outer world. If there is a disparity between what’s going on inside our hearts and what’s happening in our external world, we will eventually implode; our lives will break down or blow up. The Bible is full of examples of people who did not run their race and finish their course because they did not deal with issues of their soul.

Ensure that you allow God to work deeply in you so that he is able to work powerfully through you.
Moment of Reflection

Is your inner world affecting your outer world in positive or negative ways?

Fighting back

1 Peter 5:8 - 9: Be alert and of sober mind.Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lionlooking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him,standing firm in the faith,because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

I wish I would remember this more often. Because when I flounder in anxious thoughts, hurt feelings or even physical difficulties, I forgot where my trouble comes from.

Sin   And the devil. A malevolent being who wishes none other but my discouragement and destruction.

And so I need to remember this. BE ALERT AND OF SOBER MIND. Watch out. Keep a clear head. The cry of the shepherd when the lion is about to attack the flock, the shout of the watchman on the walls who sees the enemy approaching.

The enemy? Manifested in...

• anxious thoughts
• feelings of depression
• low spirits
• discouragement
• a sense of isolation
• doubt and despair...

Nothing, of course, in comparison to the extreme physical persecution which so many believers are undergoing in other parts of the world, especially the Middle East. 

But a reminder to me to look out, beyond myself, forgetting myself. To 'fix my eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Make every effort

1 Peter 5:5  In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you,  with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favour to the humble.”

I had misread the reference and thought I was looking at 2 Peter 1:5 which begins 'make every effort'...
Suitable, I had thought. I had woken up weary, having to remind myself to 'live joyfully' and 'make every effort' to live a life pleasing to Jesus, rather than dragging myself up.

But this verse also reminds me to 'make every effort'. To make an effort to be submissive to my leaders and to be humble towards others. I love where Paul says in the Scriptures
'clothe yourselves'...

clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:53 - 54

Meanwhile we groan,longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:2 - 4

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

And so, as I get up, somewhat weary and discouraged, I can remind myself to 'clothe myself' with Christ, above all his humility. Today, this morning, I don't need to 'make EVERY effort', although later I will. I need to get up, get dressed, and clothe myself with Christ. 

Then, and only then, will I be able to live my life out in the good and certain knowledge of his will. 
Starting with being humble towards others.