Pray Because…#5- God gives wisdom, peace, and clarity to those who ask Him in humility (Matt 21:22)

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord
Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord
And He shall lift you up (higher and higher)
And He shall lift you up

-Lyrics by Bob Hudson

 

This song was a favorite in our youth group at Park Hills EFC from 1995-1999. I still believe all these years later that a room full of 85 high school students sang this song with conviction, truly believing in the message we were singing.

 

When discussing the topic of prayer, what does it mean to come humbly to the Lord? To be humble in spirit means to be marked by meekness and modesty; without arrogance or pride. But that seems to be a pretty starched and impersonal definition, if you ask me.

 

To be humble means that you no longer live independent from God and others. Humility means sacrificing your own self-reliance, autonomy, and self-sufficiency and replacing it with full dependence on your Creator. We were never meant to be overly proud of our physical strength and health, our keen minds, social abilities, our ability to lead and control, or our successes. Every single thing that we have ever done right and accomplished comes directly from the sovereign hand of a Father who loves us and gifts us with such blessings.

 

These difficult thoughts of self are where we begin to focus our prayer. We must ask the Lord to get rid of our pride, self-reliance, and self-ability, and then be wholeheartedly devoted to full dependence on Him for all of life and godliness.

 

As we aspire more and more toward deeper humility, God grants us wisdom to walk through everyday life. He tells us that we merely have to believe and have faith to move mountains and receive whatever we ask for in prayer (Matt. 21:21-22). We also see in James 1:5 that God gives wisdom generously,

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him (HCSB)”

 

What makes this so important, so life-altering? God’s Word says that when we come to Him even with our sin, suffering, and difficulties that He gives us wisdom that can only come from His hand.

 

When we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He is the One who brings peace and clarity into every other facet of life. Praying in faith, with humility and dependence, means so much more than attempting to do life on our own terms and in our own strength.

 

Go to the Lord today in faith. Submit yourself into His incredible, sovereign purposes for your life. Be willing to ask for wisdom and help from the only One who has the power to sustain you. When you do this, a peace that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6). Come just as you are…broken, confused, prideful, or maybe delighted, joyful, and expecting, and the matchless King of Kings will bring forth clarity in your heart and soul that you’ve never experienced. Do it in faith…do it now!

 

Prayer: Father, I humbly submit my whole life to You. I give You all control and future plans. I ask that You fill me now with wisdom to depend solely on You for all of my every need. Thank You that I no longer have to feel the necessity to be self-reliant and autonomous to succeed in life. Every good and perfect gift, everything I have, is from You and belongs to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

Clay

 

 

 

Clayton J. Elliott

 

 

 

Director of Pastoral Ministries and Prayer, KMUSA