Getting LOW

This week was our first night talking about Humility. (Yikes! What a big topic!!!)

To learn about humility, you have to first learn about pride. We want to repent of pride - it leads to every other vice! Pride can be subtle and deceptive.

There are two areas of pride: we either feel arrogant or insecure.

What does arrogance look like? Cockiness, defensiveness, rejecting others, protecting yourself, competition, comparison... The core belief of arrogance is that my worth rests in being better than someone else.

What does insecurity look like? Shame, self pity, assuming rejection, proving yourself, competition, comparison...The core belief of insecurity is the my worth rests in what others think and my identity in God is not good enough.

Both arrogance and insecurity seek to find identity through comparison. The only difference is how you are measuring up. The both say that my identity as a child of God is not enough (and neither is yours).

What is God's response?
Check out 1 Peter 5:5 - This is how God rescues us (he comes to oppose us). Read on...1 Peter 5:6-9

We have some options:
1. We can acknowledge there is an enemy and humble ourselves.
2. We can welcome God's correction. I know I want to be conformed to the image of Christ, so being corrected is for my good!

Humility is...

• NOT a state you can achieve. It is a practice.
• NOT the opposite of self-esteem.
• NOT thinking less of yourself.

Humility is thinking of yourself less often and knowing exactly who you are in God - no more, no less. It is a state of freedom, peace and rest.

How can we practice? Soak in God's story. Your core beliefs matter. For arrogance? We have to believe deeply that we are fallen. We can regularly reflect on our own brokenness. For insecurity? We have to believe deeply that we are loved. (And so is everyone around you.) And that is something we just get to receive.