A year of learning humility

C. J. Mahaney in his book Humility: True Greatness defines humility as "honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." That sets humility in an entirely new light. "That's the twin reality that all genuine humility is rooted in: God's holiness and our sinfulness," Mahaney explains. "Without an honest awareness of both these realities . . . all self-evaluation will be skewed and we'll fail to either understand or practice true humility."


To be humble is to have an honest and accurate perspective of yourself and who God is. Looking back over the year I see that when I began the year I did not have an honest or accurate view of either.

Today I stand amazed at the work of the Spirit in my heart and life. I see clearly that apart from God I can do no good thing (Ps 16:2). Isaiah 64:4 says that I have become like one who is unclean, and all my righteous acts are like filthy rags; I shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind my sins sweep me away. 1 John 1:8 says that if I claim to be without sin, then I deceive myself and the truth is not in me. Without Christ in my life I am nothing.

But there is more...

To have an honest view of myself I must also know the truth of who I am IN Christ.
I am called Beloved of God (Romans 9:25)
I am holy and blameless before Him (Eph 1:4)
I have the seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30)
I have been chosen (2Thess 2:13)

1 Peter 2:9 says "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light"

To stand before God in humility I must understand that I have NOTHING to offer Him. Even my best deeds are worth nothing when done in my own strength.

In all honesty I can not even get my mind around this. God is so holy, righteous and pure that even for me to be in His presence apart from the cleansing blood of Christ is not possible.

I , Sharon, have NOTHING to offer you, my readers, NOTHING. In my own human weaknesses I would only lead you to destruction. BUT, I have the power of Christ living in me and it is Him that I offer. I offer to you what He has done in my life. He has healed me, redeemed me, saved me, He alone I boast. It is only the fact that Christ lives in and through me that I have anything to say.

Yes, God has given me an awareness of my complete and total dependence on Him and Him alone.

One final thought: I have so much more to learn about humility, God is not done teaching me and I am not finished learning how to be truly humble before a holy and righteous God.


I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)