trouble; never to be fretted or vexed or irritated or sore or
disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done
to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody
praises me and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed
home in the Lord where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my
Father in secret and be at peace as in a deep sea of calmness when all
around is trouble. It is the fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ’s redemptive
work on Calvary’s cross, manifested in those of His own who are
definitely subject to the Holy Spirit.”
Oh, to be humble. Mr. Murray writes this paragraph with such ease, so it seems, and yet it all seems so incredibly impossible to actually accomplish. “Perfect quietness of heart” is my desire and my prayer. Truly, God will have to hold my heart in order for it to know this “perfect quietness”. The Holy Spirit is in my life and lives in me. He accomplishes much in my life. He can do all because He is God.
Perhaps, with a quiet heart, the other characteristics of humility will fall into place in my life. Walking each day with the One Who straightens my path brings humility into my life, showing in modesty of dress, in polite words to others, in gentle care to and for Mama, in respect for the elderly, for our service men and women, opening a door for someone else.
But what about my insecurities … fear of doing or saying something wrong, looking for praise without asking for it? What about being blamed and not being able to accept it even though I did not do this thing?
Humbleness is the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. My job is to allow Him to work, to be open to Him, to not hinder His work in my lives, to be obedient to His every demand and request, to read the Bible and get to know Him so well that I come to understand just Who this person of the Trinity is and Who He is in my life.
From 1 Peter 3, I find words and phrases which point to humbleness:
May I walk each step …
- respectfully
- in pure conduct
- adornment by the
hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious, yet not external adornment - submissively
- doing good
- not fearing anything that is frightening
- understanding
- living in grace
- having unity of mind
- in sympathy
- with brotherly love
- with a tender heart
- with a humble mind
- blessing others
- keeping one’s tongue from evil
- and lips from speaking deceit
- seeking peace
- in the heart honoring Christ the Lord as holy
Wow! What a plateful! Yes, living humbly is truly impossible in my own strength …
but not with God.
Mark 10:27
Filed under: Devotionals, God's Word, Pondering Tagged: Holy Spirit, humility, quiet
